Sacramento, Mar 21: Chris Webber scored 26 points as the Sacramento Kings held on for a 107-99 victory over Shaquille O'Neal and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday (March 20) to improve their record to 48-21 while the Lakers fell to 38-29. Sparked by Chris Webber, the Kings played a virtually flawless fourth quarter and pulled away for a 107-99 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in a reprise of the NBA's most heated rivalry. Webber overcame a sluggish start to collect 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings finished with a flourish and beat the three-time defending NBA champions Lakers in another emotional, action-packed game. Sacramento squandered an early 15-point lead and trailed 68-66 entering the final period when it played practically perfect basketball. The Kings scored 41 points on 13-of-19 shooting, made all 12 of their free throws and did not commit a turnover. Webber scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a jumper that made it 97-90 with 2:27 remaining. After settling for jumpers early on, he went to the basket down the stretch.


The big man got some help from Peja Stojakovic, who scored nine of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Mike Bibby, who had eight of his 19 in the final period.


Sacramento needed its excellent fourth-quarter play because Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal kept the Lakers in it until the final minute. But the duo failed with a couple of crucial plays and could not overcome the Kings.


Bryant had 34 points and 13 rebounds and O'Neal added 28 and 13 while surpassing 20,000 points for his career. However, only one other Laker was in double figures.


The Lakers dropped to seventh place in the Western Conference and will play the Kings in the opening round of the playoffs if the teams hold their current positions.


Standings after National Basketball Association games played on Thursday (tabulate under won, lost, winning percentage, games behind):


EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W L PCT GB NEW JERSEY 41 27 .603 - PHILADELPHIA 40 27 .597 1/2 BOSTON 38 30 .559 3 ORLANDO 35 33 .515 6 WASHINGTON 32 35 .478 8 1/2 NEW YORK 30 38 .441 11 MIAMI 21 47 .309 20


CENTRAL DIVISION DETROIT 43 24 .642 - INDIANA 40 28 .588 3 1/2 NEW ORLEANS 39 30 .565 5 MILWAUKEE 33 35 .485 10 1/2 ATLANTA 27 42 .391 17 CHICAGO 24 45 .348 20 TORONTO 21 45 .318 21 1/2 CLEVELAND 12 55 .179 31


WESTERN CONFERENCE MIDWEST DIVISION X-DALLAS 51 17 .750 - SAN ANTONIO 48 19 .716 2 1/2 MINNESOTA 44 26 .629 8 UTAH 39 29 .574 12 HOUSTON 35 32 .522 15 1/2 MEMPHIS 25 42 .373 25 1/2 DENVER 14 54 .206 37


PACIFIC DIVISION SACRAMENTO 48 21 .696 - PORTLAND 44 24 .647 3 1/2 LA LAKERS 38 29 .567 9 PHOENIX 35 32 .522 12 GOLDEN STATE 33 35 .485 14 1/2 SEATTLE 31 36 .463 16 LA CLIPPERS 22 46 .324 25 1/2


X - CLINCHED PLAYOFF BERTH


Bureau Report