The Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA's best team this season, suddenly was one loss from first-round playoff elimination.
Chris Webber had 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, seven blocks and
four steals, and the Sacramento Kings reserves provided the decisive spark for the
second straight game as the Kings defeated the Lakers 101-88 Tuesday
night to even their series at 2-2.
Predrag Stojakovic
(Sakramento)
|
Kings' center Yugoslav Vlade Divac added 13 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes.
Jon Barry had 17 points, Tony Delk had 12 and Yugoslav Predrag Stojakovic 11 as
the Sacramento backups outscored the Lakers' reserves 42-8.
The fifth and deciding game will be Friday night in Los Angeles, where the
Lakers won the first two games of the series by comfortable margins. The
Lakers, who went a NBA-best 67-15 this season, did not lose three
straight games all year.
The winner of the series will face the Phoenix Suns in the Western
Conference semifinals.
