Nuggets Run Out of Time, Timeouts in Loss to Jazz

John Stockton thought he had seen it all during his 17-year NBA career. That was before Thursday.

Stockton hit two technical foul shots in the last 1.3 seconds, lifting the Utah Jazz to an odd 98-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Salt Lake City. The win was sealed when the Nuggets called a timeout when they had none remaining.

“Fortunately, I was oblivious to everything else,” Stockton said. “You shoot a lot of practice free throws in your life. You just step up there and relax. Sometimes, it goes in.”

It was a confusing ending to a dramatic game. Stockton’s free throws made up for his missed layup in the final seconds. Nick Van Exel corralled the rebound on Stockton’s miss and signaled for a timeout.

Referee Dick Bavetta, standing nearby, looked away, apparently refusing to determine the outcome of a closely fought game that was tied at 96-96.

The timeout call was made from the other side of the court by referee Tony Brothers after Utah’s Bryon Russell pointed it out to him.

“I thought we had a timeout but I guess we didn’t,” Van Exel said.

When Bavetta refused to award the timeout, Van Exel spiked the ball at his feet. By then, Brothers was in the fray, which took several minutes to sort. After Stockton gave the Jazz a 97-96 lead with his first foul shot, Brothers called another technical on Van Exel for arguing.

San Antonio 97, Sacramento 91--Tim Duncan had a season-high 36 points and 21 rebounds as the Spurs handed the Kings’ their first loss in regulation at Arco Arena this season.

Minnesota 109, Orlando 100--LaPhonso Ellis came off the bench to score 24 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 22 to lead the Timberwolves over the Magic at Minneapolis for their fifth consecutive victory.

Dallas 120, Vancouver 83--Steve Nash scored 21 points and Michael Finley added 20 at Dallas as the Mavericks paid back the Grizzlies for a 27-point loss in November.

Portland 92, Indiana 82--Steve Smith scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter at Indianapolis as the Trail Blazers held off a late rally and ended the Pacers’ four-game winning streak.

Around the League

Vin Baker rejoined the Seattle SuperSonics after spending a night in a Los Angeles hospital, where he was taken after experiencing an irregular pulse after playing the Clippers. Baker was examined by cardiologists at the hospital and given permission to return to the team. . . . Scottie Pippen, sidelined eight of the last nine games by tendinitis in his right elbow, was put on the injured list by the Portland Trail Blazers. . . . The Washington Wizards should get a windfall of returning guards today as Rod Strickland, Mitch Richmond and Chris Whitney all are expected to suit up for the road game against the Atlanta Hawks. Richmond, activated from the injured list Thursday, has missed 25 games with a knee injury.