Kings 93, Celtics 92

By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) Antoine Walker enjoyed playing against Chris Webber so much he told him so right on the court, with 12 seconds to go.

He should have waited until the end of the game.

Webber made the winning basket with 4.6 seconds left to atone for a pair of missed free throws seconds earlier and lead Sacramento to a 93-92 victory over Boston on Friday night.

``He said, 'I like going against you.' I said, 'I like going against you, too.' It's just a thing of respect,'' said Webber, who has only made four other 3-pointers this season. ``I love playing against guys that challenge you.''

The Kings led by 19 in the third quarter, but Boston mounted a 15-2 run and took the lead in the final minute thanks to 18 fourth-quarter points from Paul Pierce. He scored 40 in all, but missed a well-defended pull-up jumper at the buzzer that would have won it.

Webber scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and added 11 rebounds. But he blew a chance to put Sacramento ahead with 14.4 seconds left when, with the Kings trailing 91-90, he missed two from the foul line.

The Celtics got the rebound and passed the ball to J.R. Bremer, who was fouled. That's when Walker, a player usually associated with less respectful court talk, let Webber know how he felt.

Bremer made the first free throw and missed the second to give Boston a 92-90 lead. After a timeout, Webber got the ball near the top of the key, lined up the open shot and sank the game-winner.

``After missing two free throws to step up and make that 3, it took a lot of guts,'' Walker said. ``That was the last thing we thought they'd do.''

Webber entered the game just 4-for-17 from 3-point range.

``Of all the guys they had on the floor, Chris Webber was the least likely person to take that kind of shot,'' Pierce said. ``It was a good play. They went out there and went for the win. A guy shoots a 3 who rarely shoots a 3 and knocks it down.

``Their superstar player stepped up.''

Mike Bibby had 12 points, 10 assists and six steals for the Kings, who beat Boston for the sixth consecutive time and won for the ninth time in 10 games overall.

Walker had 15 points and 10 assists for the Celtics, who could have clinched a playoff berth and a winning record with a victory.

Sacramento led by nine, 13-4, just four minutes into the game. Boston cut it to two points later in the first quarter before quickly falling behind again and trailing 56-40 at the half.

The Kings led by 19 with 7:02 left in the third and held a 70-56 advantage before the Celtics scored the last nine points of the quarter and then outscored Sacramento 6-2 to start the fourth and make it 72-71.< ^Notes:@ The national anthem was sung by Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo. During the song, photos from the war in Iraq were shown on the scoreboard. ... Tony Battie didn't start for Boston because of lingering knee problems. ... Walker missed practice Thursday with knee tendinitis, but started and played 46 minutes. ... Sacramento's reserves outscored Boston's backups 30-12.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)