Webber’s Free Throws Put Jazz Fans in Foul Mood

The Sacramento Kings won a thrilling game that had an ugly finish.

Chris Webber made four free throws in the last 8.5 seconds and the Kings beat the Utah Jazz, 98-96, Saturday night at Salt Lake City after a disputed foul call prompted angry Jazz fans to throw debris at the officials as they left the court.

“It was close. I think the refs decided the game,” said Sacramento’s Bobby Jackson, who scored 21 points.

The players were already off the court as the debris, which included full plastic water bottles and mini basketballs, rained down. Referee Tony Brothers was hit on the forearm by a water bottle but said he was OK.

Webber had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and made 13 of 17 free throws. He was perfect when it counted most.

Utah’s John Stockton was fouled by Jackson with 2.4 seconds to go and Sacramento leading, 96-95, after two free throws by Webber. Stockton made the first free throw to tie the score but missed the second, and John Amaechi was called for fouling Webber on the rebound.

Jazz fans didn’t think Amaechi, who got the rebound, touched Webber and booed loudly as Webber went to the line.

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Portland 98, Minnesota 92 -- Derek Anderson scored 24 points, and Rasheed Wallace had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Trail Blazers in overtime at Minneapolis.

The Trail Blazers overcame one-for-20 shooting in the fourth quarter and outscored the Timberwolves, 13-7, in overtime.

Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves with 21 points, but was nine for 27 from the field. Troy Hudson scored 14 points for Minnesota, but only two after halftime.

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Dallas 104, Memphis 87 -- Steve Nash scored 17 points in the first quarter to help the Mavericks build a big lead at Dallas.

The Mavericks set a franchise record for consecutive home victories with 12, including one from last season. Their 11-0 start at home ties the club record to begin a season set in 1983-84.

Nash finished with 26 points and seven assists. Shawn Bradley had 18 rebounds and eight blocks for Dallas.

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Miami 101, Golden State 92 -- Eddie Jones scored a career-high 38 points at Miami and the Heat ended a five-game losing streak.

Jones, whose previous career high was 37 points, scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to help the Heat avert what would have been a humiliating defeat. After leading by 21 points in the third quarter, the Heat’s lead was cut to one point.

Antawn Jamison led the Warriors with 25 points, giving him 25 points or more for the sixth time in seven games.

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Cleveland 111, Denver 104 -- Carlos Boozer’s three-point play with 10.6 seconds left bailed out the Cavaliers, who struggled to put away the slumping Nuggets in the final minutes.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and rookie Dajuan Wagner scored 29 points apiece for the Cavaliers, who won for only the fourth time at home and fifth time this season.

James Posey had 21 points for the Nuggets, who lost their fourth in a row and have lost nine of 10.

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Boston 113, New York 90 -- Paul Pierce had 29 points and 10 rebounds at New York, and the Celtics beat the Knicks for the seventh consecutive time.

Antoine Walker scored 23 points and Vin Baker had 16 for the Celtics, who swept New York last season and are 3-0 against the Knicks this season.

Allan Houston scored 24 points for the Knicks, who shot 38% from the field.

Pierce unloaded on the Knicks to start the second half, scoring 12 consecutive points. The Knicks never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

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Detroit 91, Seattle 78 -- Richard Hamilton scored 15 of his 25 points in the second half at Auburn Hills, Mich., and the Pistons extended their winning streak to three games.

Brent Barry and Predrag Drobnjak made three-point baskets to start the second half, pulling the SuperSonics to within four points, and they later cut the deficit to 60-59.

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Phoenix 102, Atlanta 88 -- Shawn Marion scored 24 points, and Amare Stoudemire had eight in the decisive third quarter for the Suns at Atlanta.

The Suns won their third in a row to end a five-game trip and completed a season sweep of the Hawks. Atlanta lost its third in a row.

Phoenix trailed by one point at the half but outscored the Hawks, 30-16, in the third quarter and held a double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter.

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Chicago 97, Milwaukee 95 -- Jalen Rose had 30 points, and Donyell Marshall had 18 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Bulls at Chicago.

Sam Cassell tied the score, 95-95, on a baseline jumper with 32.3 left, but Rose responded with a fadeaway jumper with 8.1 seconds remaining.

Jay Williams stole Ray Allen’s pass with 0.5 seconds left and was fouled. He missed both free throws, but the Bucks could not get off a final shot.

Chicago has won three of its last four games, and the Bucks have lost five of their last seven.