Kings 105, Wizards 99

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) For three quarters, the Sacramento Kings looked playoff-ready.

That's all they needed to beat the Washington Wizards, who took another step toward the NBA lottery.

Chris Webber torched his old team again for 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Kings took control in the second quarter and held on for a 105-99 victory Wednesday night.

Sacramento, four games into a six-game road trip, nearly blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead. The victory reduced its magic number to one to win the Pacific Division.

``We got a bit tired,'' coach Rick Adelman said. ``Four games in five nights. It's another good lesson. They got really aggressive and physical, and we have to respond to that.''

Jerry Stackhouse scored 27 points for Washington. Michael Jordan, playing almost nonstop in his bid to get to the playoffs one last time, scored 17 points and played 33 of the game's first 34 minutes and 42 minutes in all. The Wizards, back from going 2-4 on a two-week West Coast road trip, sank to a season-low six games under .500.

Washington fell two games behind Milwaukee, which beat Houston 106-99, in the race for the eighth Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Wizards play at Atlanta on Thursday.

``We've got to go to Atlanta and win,'' coach Doug Collins said. ``Nothing else matters.''

The Kings, playing their third game in four days, were up by 22 in the third quarter before letting up in the fourth. The Wizards cut the lead to five on Jordan's tough baseline jumper with 2:20 to play, and they twice pulled within four.

But Webber quieted the crowd with a 20-foot jumper, and the Wizards didn't have enough time left to catch up especially after Kwame Brown missed three of four free throws in the final 70 seconds. The Kings went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute.

``They're tough to beat,'' Stackhouse said. ``But we did have a valiant effort.''

Webber made 12 of 28 shots and scored 10 points in the third quarter. He has been fired up to play the Wizards since they traded him in 1998, and has two of his seven career triple-doubles against Washington.

The Kings have won eight of nine and are 3-1 on their road trip. They lead their division by 6{ games over Portland.

The Kings were in their usual fun 'n' run mode, with flashy passes, 3-pointers and momentum-driving dunks. The Wizards actually kept pace for much of the first quarter, but a 9-3 run to open the second period put the lead in double digits.

Later in the quarter, Sacramento's defense took over, with Mike Bibby stripping Tyronn Lue for an easy layup and Peja Stojakovic poking the ball from Stackhouse on the next possession. The Kings led 57-44 at halftime with a 30-12 advantage in points in the paint, mostly from easy layups.

The Wizards were disorganized in the third quarter, missing their first six shots as the Kings went on an 8-0 run. Washington ran its offense away from Jordan, leaving him standing idly on the far wing even as the deficit surpassed 20.

``We just got stagnant,'' Collins said. ``The ball stopped moving. I'm not going to go away from Michael.''

Jordan said he was concentrating more on defense. He did not score in the third quarter and had just five points in the second half.

``We've just got to come out ready to play in the second half,'' Jordan said. ``We can't give away the beginnings of halves and quarters.''< ^Notes:@ The Wizards had their entertainment emcee announcing scoring updates from the Milwaukee game, sometimes Collins didn't seem to favor. ``I wonder if Milwaukee's announcing that we're behind in the Bradley Center,'' Collins said. ``I doubt that.'' ... Wizards F Charles Oakley (bruised right knee) and G Larry Hughes (sore right ankle) again did not dress. Both had MRIs on Tuesday, but Collins said both remained day-to-day. ... Lue had a career-high eight rebounds. ... Sacramento coach Rick Adelman (598-383) is two victories shy of 600. ... The Kings have won nine of their last 11 against the Wizards.

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