Kings Cruise at Home, Throttle Trail Blazers

With or without Chris Webber, the Sacramento Kings are difficult to beat at home.

Peja Stojakovic scored 19 points and Webber returned from a three-game absence with 16 points and 13 rebounds Wednesday night as the Kings easily handled the Portland Trail Blazers, 89-74, at Sacramento.

The Kings scored the final 13 points of the first quarter and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way in improving their home record to an NBA-best 15-1.

“We had a dismal first half,” Portland coach Maurice Cheeks said. “I have to find a way to get them to play for all four quarters.”

Webber and the Kings were not at their best, but they didn’t have to be against the Blazers, who were held to a season-low point total.

Webber never got in a groove offensively, making only six of 20 from the field and finishing with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Webber had missed three games with tendinitis in his left ankle. The Kings are 5-2 with Webber in the lineup.

“I’m ready to play through it,” said Webber, who missed the first 23 games of the season. “I just have to deal with it. Its still weak, I can only jump off one leg.”

Reserve Bobby Jackson made all three of his three-point attempts and scored 17 points. Doug Christie had 13 points and Mike Bibby added 10.

Rasheed Wallace had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers, who shot 39 percent and were 1 of 13 on three-pointers. Ruben Patterson added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Damon Stoudamire scored 10 points.

Minnesota 94, Denver 91--The Nuggets’ Voshon Lenard missed a wide open three-pointer with 15 seconds left and Kevin Garnett, who had 22 points, and the Timberwolves escaped with a win at Denver. Anthony Peeler scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with eight seconds left.

Utah 93, Boston 85--Bryon Russell scored a season-high 19 points and Karl Malone had 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Jazz won at Salt Lake City. Paul Pierce, who didn’t take a shot until midway through the second quarter, led the Celtics with 28 points, but had just one point in the final 6:50 as Utah pulled away.

Phoenix 97, Houston 91--Stephon Marbury scored 33 points, including 11 in the final 4:33 to lead the Suns at Houston. Cuttino Mobley scored 33 points for the Rockets, who ended a 15-game losing streak by beating Milwaukee in their last game Saturday.

Indiana 89, Orlando 82--Al Harrington scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Pacers at Orlando, Fla. It was the Magic’s third consecutive loss. Jermaine O’Neal had 20 points and 13 rebounds as Indiana outrebounded Orlando 51-35. McGrady led Orlando with 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

Memphis 107, Chicago 85--Pau Gasol made 11 of 15 shots and scored 27 points and Jason Williams added 21 points and 14 assists for the Grizzlies at Memphis.

Milwaukee 107, Atlanta 97--Glenn Robinson scored 32 points, including four three-pointers in the third quarter for the Bucks at Milwaukee.

New Jersey 91, Cleveland 89--Jason Kidd outdueled Andre Miller in a matchup of premier point guards, scoring 27 points for the Nets at Cleveland. Kidd also had 13 rebounds and seven assists and twice stopped Cleveland rallies with three-pointers. Miller had 14 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.