Jazz Gets the Best of Kings

Vlade Divac should have known better. The Utah Jazz are ageless, resourceful and supremely tough--anything, in fact, but done.

Donyell Marshall had 19 points and eight rebounds, and Karl Malone had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Jazz shocked the top-seeded Sacramento Kings, 93-86, Tuesday night at Sacramento, tying their contentious playoff series at one game apiece.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 15 points and blocked five shots as the Jazz ran out to a big lead during a horrible first-half performance by Sacramento. Utah then held off the Kings’ last rallies to end a seven-game losing streak against the Pacific Division champion Kings.

After Sacramento eked out a three-point victory in Game 1, King center Divac said he believed the Jazz were “done” after taking their best shot at the NBA’s regular-season champions.

Instead, the Kings appeared to be finished with anything resembling their regular style of play. The Kings shot 30% in the first three quarters and never caught up to the Jazz.

Chris Webber scored 18 points and Divac had 21, but they both spent the game in foul trouble, with Divac fouling out with five minutes left.

Orlando 111, Charlotte 103--Tracy McGrady couldn’t have felt any better. His back barely bothered him and the Magic tied the series with the Hornets, 1-1.

McGrady scored 31 points, but only four after the third quarter, to lead the Magic to an overtime victory at Charlotte, N.C.

Game 3 is Saturday at Orlando, where McGrady believes the Magic can wrap up the series.

“I think everything is in our favor right now,” he said. “We have home-court advantage now and hopefully we can close this thing out at home.”

Teammates Pat Garrity and Troy Hudson took over in overtime.

Garrity made a three-pointer to give the Magic a 102-99 lead, and after four Charlotte misses, Hudson scored on a jumper and made five free throws to seal the victory. Hudson finished with 26 points and Garrity had 18. Elden Campbell led the Hornets with 27 points.