Jazz Defeat Knicks In 2ot

After playing catchup nearly all season long, the Utah Jazz have finally made it to the top of the Western Conference standings.

Not only that, they are tied with Chicago in the loss column and hold the tiebreaker edge over the Bulls.

The Jazz gained their 50th victory of the season Sunday, tying Seattle for the best record in the West, by outlasting the New York Knicks 124-119 in double overtime.

“Even though we’re tied, the (Sonics) could look and say, ‘… we were way out in front of those guys,” Karl Malone said. “But we’re not satisfied with anything yet. We have a lot of work left to do.

“We’re starting to get there, but there’s no doubt in my mind our best games are yet to come,” Malone said.

Malone had 30 points and 14 rebounds, Adam Keefe scored a season-high 25 points, John Stockton had 22 points and 14 assists and Jeff Hornacek scored 16.

John Starks scored 26 and Allan Houston had 25 for the Knicks, who blew several chances to come away with a crucial victory in their quest to make the playoffs.

New York blew an early 17-point lead and a seven-point lead late in regulation. Houston missed what could have been a winning free throw with 1.5 seconds remaining in the fourth, and Starks missed a shot at the buzzer in the first overtime.

“The bottom line is we played great and had a chance to beat them, but we blew our chances,” Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “To have it in your control and let it get away is tough. The guys who missed feel as bad as anyone.”

Hornacek had seven points and two key assists in the second overtime as Utah opened a seven-point lead and held on to win for the 13th time in 14 games and the 20th in 22.

On the courts

Chris Webber converted a go-ahead three-point play with 27.6 seconds left in overtime, then gave the Nets the choke sign as he walked off the court following Washington’s 102-100 victory Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory not only moved the Wizards (35-33) ahead of New Jersey (35-34) and into a playoff position, but Washington also captured the season series (3-1), giving it the advantage if the teams finish the season tied.

At Sacramento, Shaquille O’Neal had 33 points and 13 rebounds and Kobe Bryant made four free throws in the final 34 seconds Sunday as the Los Angeles Lakers used a second-half comeback to defeat the Sacramento Kings 96-93.

Sacramento’s Mitch Richmond missed the game due to a sore right knee. He’s questionable for tonight’s game at Seattle.

At Toronto, Michael Jordan hit a short jumper with 5.4 seconds left in regulation to give the Chicago Bulls a 102-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

At San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 26 points and 21 rebounds, leading the San Antonio Spurs over the Phoenix Suns 93-83.

David Robinson added 17 points and 16 rebounds for San Antonio, which had lost its previous three games to Phoenix this season.

At Milwaukee, Reggie Miller scored 32 points and Rik Smits converted a key three-point play in overtime as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 96-94.

At Miami, Mark Strickland scored a career-high 23 points off the bench on 11-of-14 shooting, including a couple of highlight-reel dunks, as the Miami Heat routed the Portland Trail Blazers 112-80.