Webber Watches Sprewell, Knicks Cruise Past Kings

Latrell Sprewell didn’t need any words of encouragement, but Sacramento King forward Chris Webber couldn’t resist.

Sprewell had 43 points and six assists Thursday night at New York and the Knicks defeated Sacramento, 113-96, as the Kings played without Webber, who sat out because of a dislocated finger.

“I told him to slow down at halftime, and I guess it just pumped him up,” Webber said with a smile.

Sprewell had 24 points in the first half, and his shooting in the fourth quarter held off the Kings’ late run. Kurt Thomas had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Allan Houston scored 16 points.

“I had the hot hand, and every time I got a good look I was going to get a shot off,” Sprewell said. “I was looking for the ball all night.”

Mike Bibby scored 21 points for the Kings, who own the NBA’s best record but struggled without Webber. Sacramento shot 41% from the field, committed 15 turnovers and missed several uncontested shots down the stretch.

Sprewell scored 12 points in the fourth, including a hanging layup that stopped the Kings’ 10-2 run and gave the Knicks a 97-85 lead with 4:56 left.

Then Hedo Turkoglu missed two layups and Bibby missed an open three-point attempt as Sacramento never threatened again. The Kings had their three-game road winning streak halted.

“[Sprewell] was unbelievable,” New York Coach Don Chaney said. “When we stumbled, he picked us up. To me, that’s the making of a star and a leader.”

Portland 132, Dallas 106--Rasheed Wallace scored 28 of his 37 points in the first half to lead the Trail Blazers at Portland, Ore. In a game filled with dunks, three-point baskets and technical fouls, the Blazers used a 12-0 run late in the second quarter to take a 27-point halftime lead in ending the Mavericks’ winning streak at five.

Dallas Coach Don Nelson began the third quarter with only two starters and went with all reserves for most of the period, when Portland’s lead reached 46.

Portland is 13-2 since the All-Star break, including 5-0 against the top five teams in the Western Conference.

Portland’s Dale Davis was ejected during the third quarter for a hard foul on the Shawn Bradley. Portland’s Shawn Kemp needed four stitches in his head after colliding with teammate Chris Dudley. Kemp sustained a mild concussion and did not return.

San Antonio 91, Chicago 86--Tim Duncan scored 24 points, seven coming on free throws in a frenzied fourth quarter, to help the Spurs sneak past the Bulls at San Antonio. The Spurs got 15 of their 23 points in the final period on free throws to win their eighth consecutive game while Chicago lost its eighth consecutive.

Marcus Fizer had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls.

San Antonio’s Steve Smith left the game in the first half with a sprained right ankle.

Charlotte 100, Utah 82--Jamal Mashburn scored 26 points and Baron Davis had 18 as the Hornets won at Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte took control with a 20-2 run that began midway through the first quarter.

Karl Malone, averaging 26.4 points in 28 career games against the Hornets, had three points in 25 minutes--his lowest output since Nov. 15, 1991.