Sacramento’s Balance Too Much for Dallas

Chris Webber regained his rhythm against the team that haunted him for 10 months.

Webber had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his first game against Dallas since hurting his knee against the Mavericks during last year’s playoffs, and Sacramento beat visiting Dallas for the first time in three meetings this season, 120-102, Thursday night.

“I didn’t feel it was a good game,” said Webber, who made only two of 21 shots Tuesday against Golden State. “The best is yet to come. But it does feel good not to stink the place up.”

Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points, Doug Christie added 22 and 12 assists, and Mike Bibby had 21 points and 10 assists as the Kings improved to 48-16 and moved into a tie with Indiana for the NBA’s best record. Sacramento also got 21 points and 16 rebounds from Brad Miller.

Dirk Nowitzki had 21 points for Dallas, which lost its fourth straight road game.

Houston 97, New Orleans 86 -- Cuttino Mobley scored 31 points and equaled a season high with six three-pointers at Houston to help the Rockets to their fourth straight victory.

With the Rockets leading, 23-21, early in the second quarter, Mobley scored 13 straight points as part of a 17-4 surge that put Houston in control. Baron Davis had 30 points for New Orleans.

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Vin Baker won his arbitration case against the NBA, freeing him to sign with the team of his choice: New York or Miami.

“He’ll make a decision in the next 24 hours, not sooner,” agent Aaron Goodwin said.

Arbitrator Roger Kaplan invalidated an NBA memo barring all 29 teams from signing Baker until his other grievance -- over the termination of the final 2 1/2 years and $35 million on his contract by the Boston Celtics -- was settled.

Kaplan set an initial hearing date of April 12 for the case against the Celtics.

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Philadelphia 76er guard Allen Iverson will sit out his third straight game tonight because of a swollen right knee.