Loss Ruins Big Day for Bulls’ Cartwright

The Sacramento Kings needed a pair of free throws from Peja Stojakovic with less than seven seconds left to seal a 107-103 victory over the Bulls on Monday night at Chicago, taking the luster off some good news for Coach Bill Cartwright.

Cartwright and the Bulls announced before the game that they have agreed on a three-year option that will make him coach through the 2004-05 season. The deal is worth a reported $4.5 million.

“It was a decision that didn’t require a lot of work on our part,” General Manager Jerry Krause said. “Bill has proven that he’s going to be an outstanding coach in this league. He has the skills and the character we want heading up this program.”

Stojakovic scored 29 points, and Vlade Divac added 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Kings, who won their third in a row.

Chicago lost despite a strong effort from Jalen Rose, who had 35 points and a season-high 13 assists. But Rose also had a miss and a big turnover in the final 20 seconds.

“We were right there, and I felt the team brought me here to put us over the top in the last seconds,” Rose said. “I’m upset I didn’t get it done for my team.”

San Antonio 93, Denver 78--Tim Duncan had 21 points and nine rebounds at Denver as the Spurs won their seventh consecutive game.

San Antonio, 13-3 against the Midwest Division, also had a 10-game winning streak in December and won seven straight in November.

Denver missed its first nine three-point attempts and allowed several uncontested layups and dunks after not rotating on defense. The Nuggets finished one for 13 from three-point range.

Memphis 79, Utah 78--Pau Gasol scored 20 points and Jason Williams added 15 to lead the Grizzlies at Memphis.

Gasol scored off an alley-oop pass from Williams with 1:06 left as the Grizzlies erased a one-point deficit and took a 78-77 lead.

Gasol added a free throw with 30.1 seconds left to make the score 79-77. Utah’s Jarron Collins was fouled and missed the first free throw. He made the second for the final one-point margin.

Boston 104, Washington 99--Paul Pierce of the Celtics scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter at Washington.

The Wizards, who committed 21 turnovers for the second consecutive night, have lost 13 of their last 16, including seven of nine without injured Michael Jordan. They visit the Clippers on Wednesday for the first of a seven-game trip.

Dallas 119, Seattle 108--Nick Van Exel made three three-point baskets early in the fourth quarter, helping the Mavericks out of their only cold spell and on their way to a victory at Dallas.

The Mavericks scored a season-best 71 points in the first half and led by 18 in the third quarter until a series of missed jumpers let the SuperSonics get within five early in the fourth quarter.

Van Exel made a three-point shot as the 24-second clock expired, then swished another after Seattle got within four. Steve Nash chipped in another three-pointer, then one more by Van Exel put Dallas back up, 103-92.

Atlanta 121, Golden State 96--Jason Terry scored 32 points at Atlanta as the Hawks set a season high for points.

After a pair of free throws from Adonal Foyle cut the Atlanta lead to 39-36 with 8:04 left in the second, the Hawks went on a 26-12 run that essentially sealed the victory by the end of the quarter.