Pacers Spoil Webber’s Greatest Night

Even the game of Chris Webber’s life wasn’t enough to defeat the Indiana Pacers.

Webber had career-highs of 51 points and 26 rebounds, but he missed two shots late in overtime and did not score in the extra period as the Pacers held off the Sacramento Kings, 93-91, Friday night at Sacramento.

Webber’s previous career highs were 40 points and 22 rebounds. His game was the third phenomenal performance in Arco Arena’s last three games.

Allen Iverson scored 46 points in Philadelphia’s overtime victory Dec. 30, and Tony Delk had 53 in Phoenix’s overtime loss to the Kings on Tuesday.

The Kings, who closed regulation with a 12-3 rally, led 91-89 with 1:40 left in overtime. But Jalen Rose made layups on consecutive possessions to put the Pacers ahead by two.

Webber, who had been automatic near the basket throughout the game, then missed two short hook shots in between Sam Perkins’ dramatic block of Jon Barry’s layup attempt.

Rose, an 89% free-throw shooter, missed two with two seconds left to give the Kings a chance, but Rose blocked Predrag Stojakovic’s jump shot out of bounds with two-tenths of a second on the clock, and Webber couldn’t tip in Jason Williams’ ensuing alley-oop inbounds pass.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 20 points and matched his career-high with 15 rebounds. Rose had 19 points, and Reggie Miller added 18.

All three of Sacramento’s home losses have gone to overtime, and this defeat knocked the Kings out of first place in the Western Conference. Sacramento started the season 13-1 at Arco Arena but has lost two of three.

Philadelphia 121, Seattle 89--Allen Iverson scored 41 points and Toni Kukoc added 19 as the 76ers won their fifth in a row with a convincing victory at Philadelphia.

Kukoc had one of his stronger games of the season, making eight of nine shots from the field as Philadelphia had its highest point total of the season.

Aaron McKie had another solid game as the starting point guard with 10 points, six assists and five rebounds for the 76ers, who are on their second-longest winning streak after opening 10-0.

The SuperSonics, who have lost three in a row to match their longest skid of the season, were paced by Rashard Lewis’ 14 points. Brent Barry added 13 and Gary Payton had 12 points and nine assists.

Denver 100, Utah 87--Antonio McDyess scored 31 points and Nick Van Exel had 25 at Denver as the Nuggets handed the Jazz their fifth consecutive loss.

Two free throws by Karl Malone cut Denver’s lead to 82-76 with 6:42 left, but McDyess countered with two baskets in a row. Voshon Lenard and George McCloud later had consecutive three-point baskets, putting Denver ahead, 94-82, with 2:07 left.

McDyess also had 13 rebounds and Van Exel had seven rebounds and eight assists.

Malone led the Jazz with 33 points, and John Stockton had 14.

Portland 119, Milwaukee 115--Steve Smith scored 26 points as the Trail Blazers held off Tim Thomas and the Bucks at Portland, Ore., for their seventh consecutive victory.

Bonzi Wells started his fourth consecutive game and added 25 points for the Blazers, who had a season-high 32 assists, including a career-best seven from Rasheed Wallace. Wallace also had seven rebounds and 14 points.

Thomas made eight three-point shots, all in the second half, and scored a career-high 39 points for the Bucks. Glenn Robinson added 26 points and Sam Cassell had 22 and 10 assists.

Phoenix 108, Vancouver 76--Jason Kidd needed only three quarters to get his fifth triple-double of the season and Shawn Marion scored 23 points in the Suns’ rout at Phoenix.

Kidd, who sat out the fourth quarter, had 11 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds as the Suns opened an 83-56 lead after three quarters. It was his second triple-double in seven games and the 36th of his career.

Tony Delk also scored 23 in the Suns’ most lopsided victory of the season.

Dallas 115, Toronto 105--Steve Nash had a career-high 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored 13 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks defeated the Raptors at Toronto.

Nash, who received a loud ovation before the game for leading Canada to upsets over Australia and Yugoslavia at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, made 12 of 16 shots from the field and had eight assists.

Golden State 100, Boston 88--Antawn Jamison had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Larry Hughes added 18 points to lead the Warriors to their third win in their last four road games with the victory at Boston.

Golden State is 5-3 in its last eight games and improved to 4-11 on the road.

Around the League

New Jersey activated forward Keith Van Horn, giving the struggling team a much-needed second scorer. Van Horn, 25, has missed the first 32 games because of a broken left leg suffered in an exhibition game. He averaged 19.2 points--second to point guard Stephon Marbury--and 8.4 rebounds last season. . . . Orlando General Manager John Gabriel said he will offer Doc Rivers a contract extension after the season, and the coach said he’d sign it. Rivers, 39, has two years left on his contract after this season, and there has been speculation around the league he would leave when it expires. . . . Philadelphia will retire Charles Barkley’s uniform No. 34 during a halftime ceremony March 30, the team said. . . . Point guard Elliot Perry was waived by the Phoenix Suns, clearing a roster spot for Penny Hardaway. Hardaway, who has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery, is expected to play Sunday when the Suns play at home against Minnesota. . . . Milt Palacio’s short but memorable stint with Boston ended when he was waived. Palacio had a buzzer-beating three-point basket to give the Celtics a 112-111 victory over New Jersey on Dec. 28.