Stockton Reaches Milestone

Around the NBA

John Stockton reached the 12,000-assist mark, Karl Malone had 37 points and the Utah Jazz outmuscled the Charlotte Hornets for a 114-93 victory Monday night.

Stockton, already the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals, had 23 points to go with five assists and two steals. That boosted his 13-year career totals to 12,000 assists and 2,499 steals.

Malone added nine rebounds and five assists as Utah won for the fourth consecutive time and the ninth in 10 games.

Charlotte, losing for the first time in 12 home games this season against Western Conference teams, got 29 points from Glen Rice and 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists from Vlade Divac.

Blazers on fire

The youngest team in the NBA also is the hottest.

The Portland Trail Blazers have won nine in a row, their longest winning streak in six years and the fourth-longest in franchise history.

“It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure this out,” Portland’s Kenny Anderson said. “It’s real simple. We’re playing basketball. We have talent. Right now we’re just better than the teams we’re playing against.

“Talent-wise, we can compete with the best teams in the league, period.”

Elsewhere on the court

Eric Williams scored 25 points as the Boston Celtics snapped an eight-game losing streak and sent the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to their 11th loss in 13 games, 126-117.

Boston avoided a franchise-record eighth consecutive home loss and got just its second win overall in 23 games.

Nick Van Excel scored 30 points and Byron Scott reached 15,000 career points with 15 as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 113-94 in Denver.