L.A. Lakers qualified to the second round of NBA play-off, since they defeated Sacramento 113-86 in the fifth, decisive match.
Victory of the host team in the Staples Center was never questioned. Due to their tough defense, greater number of the rebounds, unstoppable pair Shaquille O'Neal (32 points, 18 rebounds) - Kobe Bryant (17 points) and the experienced A. C. Green who guarded the best Kings' player Chris Webber, L.A. Lakers managed to prevent the surprise. They will play Phoenix Suns in the next round of the play-off.
Sacramento Yugoslav players failed to make a good impression. In 28 minutes Predrag Stojakovic scored 8 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Having many personal faults, Vlade Divac played only 19 minutes, scoring four points and only two rebounds.
The traditional poll conducted by the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, declared playmaker of the Italian Winnington Group, young Yugoslav basketball player Marko Jaric, the best player under 22 on the Apennines.
Jaric was born on October 12, 1978 in Belgrade. He is 200 cm tall, weighs 90kg. He played for the Belgrade Crvena Zvezda and Radnicki, after that for the Greek Peristeri and is presently a successfully player of the Italian Winnington Group. As a member of the Yugoslav young national team, he won the gold medal at the 1998 European Championship and was selected for the best five of the Championship.
After the triumph in the Korac Cup, Yugoslav coach Dusko Ivanovic won another trophy this season. In the final match of the French Basketball Cup, Limoges defeated PSG 79-73 (38-34).
