Kings Complete Perfect Road Trip

What’s the most remarkable thing about Sacramento going unbeaten on a six-game trip? To Chris Webber, it wasn’t that the Kings won all six.

“It’s that we were able to win five of them without that guy over there,” he said, nodding toward Peja Stojakovic.

Webber scored 28 points and Stojakovic had 23 in his return from an eight-game absence as the Sacramento Kings defeated the Utah Jazz, 117-109, on Friday night at Salt Lake City.

The Kings won their seventh in a row and capped a 6-0 trip, extending their lead over the Lakers to three games in the Pacific Division. They also set franchise records with their 56th victory and 23rd road victory.

“It’s a sign of maturity,” Webber said. “We’re really coming together. Having [Stojakovic] back, it’s the first time in a while we’ve had our whole team together.”

It was just the opposite for the Jazz. Perennial All-Star Karl Malone went home before tipoff with a swollen right knee, only the fifth game he missed because of injury in his 17-year career.

Indiana 97, Phoenix 87--Jermaine O’Neal scored 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Brad Miller had 25 points to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis.

The Pacers desperately needed the victory after dropping five of their last six to fall into a tie with Toronto for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Detroit 92, Philadelphia 88--Jerry Stackhouse had 34 points, including two crucial free throws with 13 seconds left at Philadelphia, as the Pistons won on the road for the 16th time in 19 games.

Jon Barry scored 17 points, Chucky Atkins had 15 and Ben Wallace, the NBA’s leading rebounder, grabbed 10 despite spraining his right ankle in the first quarter.

New Jersey 110, Orlando 85--Keith Van Horn rebounded from a poor game to score 20 points and grab 15 rebounds to lead the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Jason Kidd had 14 points and 10 assists as the Nets extended their franchise-record home winning streak to 13 games. Only Sacramento (33-4) has a better home mark than the Nets (32-6).

Toronto 98, Chicago 96--Antonio Davis scored 27 points and Alvin Williams had 18 at Chicago as the Raptors won their seventh in a row, tying a franchise record.

Charlotte 97, Washington 91--Jamal Mashburn scored 27 points and Elden Campbell had 21 to lead the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Miami 102, Milwaukee 97--Eddie House scored 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter at Miami as the Heat ended a three-game losing streak.

New York 86, Seattle 83--Allan Houston scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter at Seattle as the Knicks kept the SuperSoincs from clinching a playoff spot.

Memphis 99, Houston 81--Rookie Pau Gasol scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Grizzlies won at Memphis, Tenn.

Golden State 108, Denver 104--Gilbert Arenas scored 25 points at Oakland and made the go-ahead basket with 1:02 left to lead the Warriors.