Williams Takes Control for Kings

Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points and Jason Williams made two baskets in the final 51 seconds Monday night as the Sacramento Kings rallied for a 100-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Williams beat Terrell Brandon along the baseline and scored on a driving layup to put the Kings ahead, 98-97, with 20 seconds left.

Doug Christie protected the Kings’ one-point lead by stealing a pass. He was fouled with 1.5 seconds left and made two free throws to give Sacramento a 100-97 lead.

A three-point attempt at the buzzer by Kevin Garnett was blocked as the Kings came away with the victory, moving to 15-3 at home this season.

Williams, who had only eight points, scored from close range, pulling the Kings to within 97-96 with 51 seconds left.

Chris Webber had 21 points and nine rebounds for Sacramento, which had lost four consecutive and nine of 11 to the Timberwolves. Vlade Divac added 12 points and nine rebounds and Christie also scored 12.

Garnett, who had a combined 24 points in the previous two games, had 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Wally Szczerbiak scored 21 points and Terrell Brandon had 20 points and 13 assists.

With the shot-clock running down, Garnett made a wide-open three-pointer, giving Minnesota its first lead since the second quarter. Szczerbiak followed with two free throws, putting the Timberwolves ahead, 97-94, with 1:03 remaining.

Following a high-scoring first half, both teams cooled off in the third period. Webber and Stojakovic each had six points as Sacramento took an 80-77 lead into the final quarter.

Stojakovic scored 16 points, Webber had 13 and Divac made all five shots and had 11 as the Kings took a 61-57 lead into the break after an up-tempo first half.

Garnett scored 16 points and Brandon had 14 points and eight assists in the first half for the Timberwolves, who were outscored, 29-21, in the second quarter.

Miami 88, Golden State 78--Anthony Mason scored 11 of his 24 points in the third quarter at Miami as the Heat earned its sixth consecutive home victory.

Brian Grant had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Eddie Jones and A.C. Green each added 12 points for the Heat, which has won eight of nine.

Antawn Jamison scored 27 points for Golden State, which has lost three of its last four games.

Mason tied a season high for points and led the Heat in scoring for the second time in the last three games. He shot seven for 12 from the field, but did most of his damage from the foul line, making 10 of 12 attempts.

Cleveland 92, New Jersey 90--Chris Gatling’s free throw with 2.8 seconds left, coupled with 22 points by Lamond Murray and 14 rebounds by Clarence Weatherspoon at Cleveland, helped the Cavaliers end a three-game losing streak.

Weatherspoon’s final rebound was the biggest of the night for Cleveland. He wrestled the ball away from Keith Van Horn on the offensive boards and was fouled with 46 seconds left.

Gatling added 15 points and eight rebounds as Cleveland won for the second time in 10 games.

Stephon Marbury, who missed all six of his shots in the fourth quarter, scored 27 points, and Van Horn added 17 for the Nets.

Dallas 104, Chicago 91--Michael Finley had 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists at Chicago as the Mavericks set a franchise record with their sixth consecutive road victory.

Dirk Nowitzki added 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Steve Nash had 14 points as six Dallas players scored in double figures.

Elton Brand led the Bulls with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Khalid El-Amin added 18 for the Bulls, who lost despite shooting 51% from the field.

The Mavericks shot only 48% (39 of 82), and allowed the Bulls to hang around until midway through the fourth quarter.

When Fred Hoiberg made a three-point basket with 6:59 left, it cut Dallas’ lead to 83-81. But just as they had all night, the Mavericks came through with a timely 18-3 run.