Jazz Displays Its Speed in Ending Nuggets’ Streak

Although a step slower than he was in his prime, Karl Malone still has some juice left in those 37-year-old legs.

Playing against up-tempo Denver, Malone scored 30 points--including eight on the fastbreak--as the Utah Jazz outran, outshot and outplayed the Nuggets in a 97-91 victory Monday night at Denver.

“They kicked our butt in transition,” Denver point guard Nick Van Exel said. “Old man Karl Malone beat us up and down the court. He was out there like he was 20 years old. We can’t beat that team if they score more fastbreak points than we do.”

The Jazz, which ended Denver’s nine-game home winning streak, executed its half-court game with efficiency and outscored the Nuggets, 23-9, in transition.

Van Exel, playing on a ruptured tendon in his right foot, led Denver with 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Minnesota 99, Milwaukee 96--Kevin Garnett scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter at Minneapolis as the Timberwolves rallied for their seventh consecutive victory.

Terrell Brandon added 20 points, including two free throws with 25.4 seconds to play for the game’s final points, and he tied his career-high with 16 assists.

Glenn Robinson scored 25 points to lead the Bucks. Buck point guard Sam Cassell sat out the game because of bronchitis.

Washington 95, Cleveland 89--Juwan Howard scored 24 points as the Wizards, playing with newfound energy and grit, ran their winning streak to five games with a victory over the visiting Cavaliers.

The Wizards, recovering from the worst start in franchise history, have their longest winning streak since a six-game spurt shortly after the MCI Center opened in December 1997.

Boston 99, Detroit 87--Antoine Walker scored 21 of his 27 points in the second half at Boston as the Celtics rallied from a 16-point deficit for their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Paul Pierce scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter for Boston, which had a 38-12 run in the third and fourth quarters to turn a 16-point deficit to a 10-point lead, 92-82, with 3:28 to play.

Phoenix 95, Atlanta 82--Shawn Marion scored 25 points to lead the Suns to victory at Atlanta.

The Suns wrapped up a six-game trip by salvaging their second victory. Atlanta has lost six of seven.

Vancouver 97, New Jersey 86--Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Michael Dickerson scored 24 points apiece as the Grizzlies rallied from a 23-point deficit at Vancouver.

It was the biggest comeback in franchise history, besting an 18-point comeback over Houston in April 2000.

Charlotte 93, Golden State 85--Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points and Elden Campbell had 15 points and 12 rebounds as all five Charlotte starters scored in double figures as the Hornets began a four-game West Coast swing at Oakland.

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Around the League

Forward Chris Mills of the Golden State Warriors will undergo surgery Saturday in Van Nuys to remove bone spurs from his right ankle and is expected to sit out the rest of the season. . . . Forward Ruben Patterson of the Seattle SuperSonics pleaded guilty in Cleveland to a misdemeanor assault charge and was placed on six months probation. Patterson, 25, who had been charged with felonious assault, was accused of hitting a man and breaking his jaw last summer. Patterson thought the man had scratched his car outside a nightclub.