Jazz Moves to Top Without Malone

Karl Malone’s night off was no problem for the Utah Jazz.

Jeff Hornacek scored 18 points and John Stockton had 12 points and 11 assists Monday night as the Utah Jazz beat the Vancouver Grizzlies, 98-80, without the suspended Malone.

The Jazz won their seventh straight game and tied Portland (28-8) for the league’s best record. Utah is an NBA-best 17-1 at home, winning four home games in the last five days.

“Mentally, we knew we couldn’t lose this game,” Jazz forward Shandon Anderson said. “[Malone’s suspension] kind of gave us an advantage, because . . . they didn’t know who was going to get the ball tonight. A lot of guys got a chance to score and get some easy baskets.”

Malonewas suspended for the game and fined $4,000 for throwing a punch at Houston’s Othella Harrington on Sunday.

Houston 95, Minnesota 90--Hakeem Olajuwon scored 22 points as the Rockets held off a fourth-quarter Timberwolf rally at Minneapolis.

The Timberwolves used a 20-10 rally to get within 87-85 with 1:57 left, but could get no closer.

San Antonio 94, Phoenix 77--Tim Duncan scored 26 points to lead the Spurs to their 19th victory in their last 22 games.

Phoenix, which won by 26 points over San Antonio two nights ago in Phoenix, got 25 points from Clifford Robinson.

Golden State 104, Denver 96--Donyell Marshall scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and also had 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors at Denver.

Denver, which had its three-game home winning streak stopped, was paced by 36 points and nine rebounds from Antonio McDyess.

Boston 103, Cleveland 89--Ron Mercer scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half and Vitaly Potapenko had 19 against his former team to lead the Celtics past the Cavaliers at Boston.

The Celtics, who never trailed, posted their fourth victory in their last five games.

Charlotte 92, Detroit 86--Elden Campbell scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half at Auburn Hills, Mich., to lead the Hornets to their fourth straight victory.

Hornet guard David Wesley just missed his first career triple-double, finishing with 10 points, nine assists and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Don Reid has a career-high 25 points for Detroit. Grant Hill added 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Indiana 109, Toronto 99--Dale Davis had 21 points and seven rebounds at Toronto as the Pacers snapped a two-game losing streak.

NBA Notes

The Atlanta Hawks’ Anthony Johnson was suspended for one game game and fined $5,000 by the NBA for throwing an elbow at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Bob Sura in Sunday’s game. Johnson will miss tonight’s game against Milwaukee. Johnson’s teammate Dikembe Mutombo was also fined $7,500 for elbowing the New York Knicks’ Chris Childs on Friday night.