Trusty Duo Lead Jazz Nba Playoffs

In the end, it proved to be as predictable as it was unstoppable: Karl Malone, John Stockton, victory.

In the 12th year of their NBA partnership, Malone had 39 points and Stockton 18 as Utah held off the Los Angeles Clippers 105-99 Saturday for a commanding 2-0 first-round playoff lead at Salt Lake City.

It took all of Malone’s points to defeat the pesky Clippers, who insisted on staying around late into the fourth quarter after losing 106-86 in Game 1.

“I think that people thought we were just going to kill them every time, but these guys came in with a good game play,” Malone said. “Down the stretch we really got after it and we stopped them with our defense.”

The Jazz can sweep the best-of-5 series when it moves to Los Angeles on Monday. “No, we’re not out of it,” Clippers coach Bill Fitch said. “You’re talking to a guy who’s wearing a (1981 Boston NBA championship) ring, and was down three games to one. All we have to do is win three.”

Malone, who hit 12 of 25 shots, also rediscovered his free-throw shooting. Just 1 of 6 in Thursday’s opener, he was 15 of 19 in Game 2’s parade to the foul line. Stockton had just four assists after 17 in Game 1, but made up for it by hitting 7 of 11 shots, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range.

Jazz 105, Clippers 99

L.A Clippers (99) - Rogers 3-6 5-7 12, Vaught 1-3 3-4 5, Wright 6-11 5-5 17, Sealy 5-7 1-1 11, Martin 5-12 5-7 16, Murray 4-10 5-5 15, Outlaw 0-2 0-0 0, Manning 1-6 3-4 5, Piatkowski 0-3 5-6 5, Barry 5-11 0-0 13. Totals 30-71 32-39 99.

Utah (105) - Russell 2-5 2-3 6, Malone 12-25 15-19 39, Ostertag 0-3 0-0 0, Hornacek 3-10 4-4 11, Stockton 7-11 2-2 18, Eisley 4-5 1-1 10, Foster 1-4 4-6 6, Anderson 1-1 2-2 4, Carr 4-4 3-4 11, Keefe 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 34-70 33-41 105.

L.A. Clippers 22 23 32 22 - 99

Utah 27 34 23 21 - 105

3-Point goals-Los Angeles 7-17 (Barry 3-4, Murray 2-4, Martin 1-2, Rogers 1-4, Vaught 0-1, Sealy 0-1, Piatkowski 0-1), Utah 4-14 (Stockton 2-4, Eisley 1-2, Hornacek 1-4, Russell 0-2, Morris 0-2). Fouled out-Vaught. Rebounds-Los Angeles 44 (Vaught 9), Utah 48 (Malone 11). Assists-Los Angeles 18 (Martin 6), Utah 20 (Hornacek, Stockton 4). Total fouls-Los Angeles 34, Utah 31. Technicals-Utah illegal defense. Flagrant fouls- Morris. A-19,911 (19,911).

Rockets 96, T-Wolves 84

Houston

This time, the Houston Rockets had to wait until the final 5 minutes before their experience took over.

Charles Barkley scored 20 points and led a spurt in the final crucial minutes as the Houston Rockets broke away late to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Rockets lead the best-of-5 game series 2-0 and could sweep the series with a victory in Game 3 Tuesday at Minnesota, where the Timberwolves, in their first playoff series, will continue to seek their first playoff victory ever.

“Every possession was a war,” Hakeem Olajuwon said. “It was an intense game from beginning to end. You have to give them a lot of credit. They have a lot of athletic players and they play together.”

The Timberwolves last led 79-78 on a 3-point basket by Stephon Marbury with 5:47 to play. But a free throw and three-point play by Mario Elie gave Houston an 82-79 lead with 5:22 to go.

Minnesota (84) - Garnett 7-14 0-0 14, Gugliotta 8-21 1-2 17, Garrett 1-5 2-2 4, West 6-10 1-1 13, Marbury 10-25 0-2 22, Mitchell 0-2 1-2 1, Porter 4-8 3-4 13, Heal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-85 8-13 84.

Houston (96) - Elie 2-3 8-8 12, Barkley 6-13 8-13 20, Olajuwon 9-12 0-0 18, Drexler 6-17 0-0 17, Maloney 3-8 4-4 12, Willis 3-8 3-4 9, Threatt 3-6 0-0 8, Johnson 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 32-73 23-29 96.

Minnesota 20 23 22 19 - 84

Houston 24 17 25 30 - 96

3-Point goals-Minnesota 4-15 (Porter 2-6, Marbury 2-7, West 0-2), Houston 9-26 (Drexler 5-11, Threatt 2-5, Maloney 2-6, Barkley 0-1, Olajuwon 0-1, Johnson 0-2). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Minnesota 49 (Garrett 14), Houston 52 (Barkley 15). Assists-Minnesota 22 (Marbury 6), Houston 26 (Drexler 7). Total fouls-Minnesota 22, Houston 19. Technicals-Mitchell, Willis, Minnesota illegal defense. Flagrant fouls-Mitchell. Ejections-Mitchell. A-16,285 (16,285).

Knicks 100, Hornets 93

New York

Three quarters of Rice and one quarter of sloppy play was a recipe that didn’t work for Charlotte.

The New York Knicks withstood 39 points from Glen Rice and held the injury-depleted and bumbling Hornets without a field goal for more than 8-1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter.

It gave New York a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series, which moves to Charlotte for Game 3 on Monday night.

Patrick Ewing led New York with 30 points on 15-for-21 shooting with six rebounds and three blocks. Chris Childs added 17 points, including three straight jumpers late in the fourth that helped New York wrap it up.

Tony Delk, starting at point guard in place of Muggsy Bogues, had 15 points. Vlade Divac had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

After Anthony Mason gave Charlotte an 83-81 lead with 11:06 left, the Hornets committed six turnovers and missed all their field-goal attempts until Rice scored on a jumper with 2:28 left. The Knicks took advantage during the slump and outscored Charlotte 17-6 for a 98-89 lead.

Childs had three of the biggest baskets late in that stretch, making two wide-open jumpers and adding his third 3-pointer of the game with 2:47 left for a 98-89 lead.

That led to a chant of “Sweep! Sweep!” from the Madison Square Garden crowd, and it reached a crescendo with 16 seconds left when Ewing hit a jumper to make it 100-93.

Minnesota (84) - Garnett 7-14 0-0 14, Gugliotta 8-21 1-2 17, Garrett 1-5 2-2 4, West 6-10 1-1 13, Marbury 10-25 0-2 22, Mitchell 0-2 1-2 1, Porter 4-8 3-4 13, Heal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-85 8-13 84.

Houston (96) - Elie 2-3 8-8 12, Barkley 6-13 8-13 20, Olajuwon 9-12 0-0 18, Drexler 6-17 0-0 17, Maloney 3-8 4-4 12, Willis 3-8 3-4 9, Threatt 3-6 0-0 8, Johnson 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 32-73 23-29 96.

Minnesota 20 23 22 19 - 84

Houston 24 17 25 30 - 96

3-Point goals-Minnesota 4-15 (Porter 2-6, Marbury 2-7, West 0-2), Houston 9-26 (Drexler 5-11, Threatt 2-5, Maloney 2-6, Barkley 0-1, Olajuwon 0-1, Johnson 0-2). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Minnesota 49 (Garrett 14), Houston 52 (Barkley 15). Assists-Minnesota 22 (Marbury 6), Houston 26 (Drexler 7). Total fouls-Minnesota 22, Houston 19. Technicals-Mitchell, Willis, Minnesota illegal defense. Flagrant fouls-Mitchell. Ejections-Mitchell. A-16,285 (16,285).