Kings reign supreme over Nets
Reuters, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Peja Stojakovic scored 24 points and Mike Bibby added 23 as the Sacramento Kings routed the New Jersey Nets 118-82 in NBA action on Thursday.
It was a showdown between two of the NBA's best teams, both with 26-9 records entering the game.
But the Kings totally dominated the Nets, who were looking to tie a franchise record with their 11th straight victory.
The Nets never got close to having that opportunity, as Sacramento rolled to a big lead and got a measure of revenge for a 117-83 loss suffered in New Jersey last February.
Sacramento came within one game of meeting New Jersey in last year's NBA final and Thursday's game was billed as a potential 2003 NBA Finals preview.
If it was it wasn't a good omen for the Nets, who shot just 37 percent from the field.
The Kings led 69-41 at that half and increased that margin to as many as 40 points before settling for the 36-point victory while cruising to their fourth straight win.
Chris Webber added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, now five full games ahead of Phoenix in the Pacific Division standings.
Jim Jackson added 12 points and eight rebounds, Doug Christie had 10 points and nine assists and Keon Clark contributed nine points and nine rebounds.
Jason Kidd had one of his poorest nights of the season, scoring 10 points on 5-for-17 shooting.
Jason Collins, Lucious Harris and Anthony Johnson all had 11 points, while Kenyon Martin scored eight points and had 13 rebounds.
It was just the second loss for New Jersey at home (18-2), with the other coming to Dallas.
In Portland, Derek Anderson and Scottie Pippen both had 19 points to lead the Trail Blazers past the San Antonio Spurs 90- 87.
Rasheed Wallace added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who improved to 21-13 while holding the Spurs to just 55 points after three quarters.
Stephen Jackson scored 18 points for San Antonio, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped. Tony Parker had 17 points while Tim Duncan was held to just 12 points on five-for-15 shooting and 12 rebounds.