NBA

SACRAMENTO KINGS
VS.
BOSTON CELTICS
DATE:Dec. 30,2002

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BOSTON 22 23 20 29 94
SACRAMENTO 34 25 29 21 109 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: BOS - PAUL PIERCE 26, ANTOINE WALKER 24, ERIC WILLIAMS 7
SAC - CHRIS WEBBER 30, PREDRAG STOJAKOVIC 23, TWO PLAYERS
WITH 13

HIGH REBOUND: BOS - ANTOINE WALKER 8, TONY BATTIE 8
SAC - SCOT POLLARD 11, VLADE DIVAC 9

HIGH ASSISTS: BOS - ANTOINE WALKER 7, KENNY ANDERSON 5
SAC - DOUG CHRISTIE 7, VLADE DIVAC 5

ATT: 17,317




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extended Box

BOSTON (94) AT SACRAMENTO (109)

BOSTON
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

PIERCE F 41 11-22 3-4 0 4 4 2 0 1 1 26
WALKER F 39 8-19 3-6 3 5 8 7 3 0 5 24
BATTIE C 20 2-3 2-2 3 5 8 0 1 1 1 6
ANDERSON G 15 2-5 0-1 1 2 3 5 3 0 1 4
JOHNSON G 14 3-7 0-0 2 3 5 0 2 0 0 6
STRICKLAND 19 1-4 0-0 1 1 2 4 2 0 2 3
E WILLIAMS 26 2-8 3-4 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 7
POTAPENKO 19 1-7 2-2 3 2 5 0 2 1 1 4
K BROWN 14 1-6 2-2 0 6 6 0 2 0 0 4
PALACIO 16 1-2 1-2 0 3 3 3 1 0 0 3
BLOUNT 12 0-0 2-2 0 2 2 0 3 0 0 2
MCCARTY 5 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

TOTALS 240 34-87 18-25 13 33 46 21 23 4 11 94
(.391) (.720) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 11(14 PTS)

SACRAMENTO
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

STOJAKOVIC F 40 9-19 2-3 1 4 5 4 1 2 1 23
WEBBER F 39 10-17 10-12 1 7 8 3 3 2 2 30
DIVAC C 26 3-5 1-2 3 6 9 5 1 1 1 7
BIBBY G 24 5-10 2-2 1 3 4 2 4 0 2 13
CHRISTIE G 27 2-5 1-1 0 3 3 7 4 1 2 7
TURKOGLU 26 3-7 6-8 0 5 5 3 2 1 0 13
POLLARD 22 3-3 0-2 2 9 11 0 2 1 0 6
JACKSON 20 3-9 0-0 2 3 5 2 1 0 1 8
WALLACE 5 0-2 2-2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
CLEAVES 5 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
PRICE 3 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
FUNDERBURKE 3 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240 38-81 24-32 11 41 52 27 20 8 11 109
(.469) (.750) TEAM REBS: 7 TOTAL TO: 11(16 PTS)

BOSTON 22 23 20 29 - 94
SACRAMENTO 34 25 29 21 - 109

BLOCKED SHOTS: BOSTON - PIERCE, BLOUNT. SACRAMENTO - DIVAC 2, CHRISTIE,
WEBBER.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: BOSTON 8-24 (.333), PIERCE 1-6, WALKER 5-9, JOHNSON
0-1, STRICKLAND 1-2, E WILLIAMS 0-2, K BROWN 0-3, MCCARTY 1-1. SACRAMENTO
9-20 (.450), STOJAKOVIC 3-6, WEBBER 0-1, BIBBY 1-1, CHRISTIE 2-5, TURKOGLU
1-2, JACKSON 2-4, PRICE 0-1.
TECHNICALS: BOSTON - WALKER, HEAD COACH OBRIEN, SACRAMENTO - DEFENSIVE
THREE.
OFFICIALS: PAT FRAHER, TIM DONAGHY, DEE KANTNER.
A - 17,317. T - 2:10.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Box Score

BOSTON (94)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Pierce 41 11-22 3-4 0-4 2 0 26
Walker 39 8-19 3-6 3-8 7 3 24
Battie 20 2-3 2-2 3-8 0 1 6
Anderson 15 2-5 0-1 1-3 5 3 4
Johnson 14 3-7 0-0 2-5 0 2 6
Strickland 19 1-4 0-0 1-2 4 2 3
E Williams 26 2-8 3-4 0-0 0 4 7
Potapenko 19 1-7 2-2 3-5 0 2 4
K Brown 14 1-6 2-2 0-6 0 2 4
Palacio 16 1-2 1-2 0-3 3 1 3
Blount 12 0-0 2-2 0-2 0 3 2
Mccarty 5 2-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 5
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 240 34-87 18-25 13-46 21 23 94
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.391, FT-.720. 3-Point Goals:
8-24, .333 (Pierce 1-6, Walker 5-9, Johnson 0-1,
Strickland 1-2, E Williams 0-2, K Brown 0-3,
Mccarty 1-1). Team rebounds: 6. Blocked shots: 2
(Pierce, Blount). Turnovers: 11 (Walker 5,
Strickland 2, Anderson, Battie, Pierce,
Potapenko). Steals: 4 (Battie, E Williams,
Pierce, Potapenko).

SACRAMENTO (109)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Stojakovic 40 9-19 2-3 1-5 4 1 23
Webber 39 10-17 10-12 1-8 3 3 30
Divac 26 3-5 1-2 3-9 5 1 7
Bibby 24 5-10 2-2 1-4 2 4 13
Christie 27 2-5 1-1 0-3 7 4 7
Turkoglu 26 3-7 6-8 0-5 3 2 13
Pollard 22 3-3 0-2 2-11 0 2 6
Jackson 20 3-9 0-0 2-5 2 1 8
Wallace 5 0-2 2-2 1-1 0 0 2
Cleaves 5 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
Price 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0
Funderburke 3 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 240 38-81 24-32 11-52 27 20 109
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.469, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
9-20, .450 (Stojakovic 3-6, Webber 0-1, Bibby
1-1, Christie 2-5, Turkoglu 1-2, Jackson 2-4,
Price 0-1). Team rebounds: 7. Blocked shots: 4
(Divac 2, Christie, Webber). Turnovers: 11 (Bibby
2, Christie 2, Cleaves 2, Webber 2, Divac,
Jackson, Stojakovic). Steals: 8 (Stojakovic 2,
Webber 2, Christie, Divac, Pollard, Turkoglu).
____________________________________________
Boston 22 23 20 29 - 94
Sacramento 34 25 29 21 - 109
____________________________________________
Technical fouls: Boston 2 (Walker, 1:46 1st; Head
Coach Obrien, 10:44 3rd). Sacramento 1
(Defensive Three, 10:49 1st). Flagrant fouls:
None. A: 17,317. T: 2:10. Officials: Pat Fraher,
Tim Donaghy, Dee Kantner.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game Story

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Chris Webber had his best
all-around game of the season and the Sacramento Kings used it
to continue their dominance at Arco Arena.

Webber scored a season-high 30 points to lead the Kings to their
10th straight home win, 109-94 over the Boston Celtics.

In eight games since returning from a severely sprained right
ankle, the All-Star power forward was averaging 21 points and 10
rebounds. He had 11 points in the first quarter, helping
Sacramento jump out to another early lead, 34-22.

Webber finished 10-of-17 on mostly inside shots. He was a force
inside with eight rebounds and 10-of-12 free throws. Sacramento
was 16-7 without him and 7-2 in the nine games he's played.

After rallying for a home win over Detroit on December 18 and
consecutive losses at Seattle and the Los Angeles Clippers, the
Kings have jumped out to big leads in each of their last four
home games.

Sacramento led 59-45 at halftime after shooting 51 percent
(22-of-43) from the field.

Bobby Jackson's 3-pointer sparked a 9-0 run that stretched the
advantage to 86-60 with just over three minutes left in the
third quarter.

"We wanted to avoid the big 10-point run, of having to come back
from 12 or 13, because that's when they're at their best"
Celtics forward Antoine Walker said. "We dug ourselves a hole.
We felt very confident that we could get back into the game, but
they countered it each time with a big play."

"We did not shoot the basketball well," Boston coach Jim O'Brien
added. "We wanted to get off to a good start, but it didn't
happen tonight, and this is a tough team to catch up on. Teams
like Sacramento, San Antonio, the Lakers -- too many weapons."

Webber also held Walker scoreless for nearly two quarters.
Walker had 11 of his 24 points in the opening period but did not
score again until the 1:14 mark of the third. By then, Boston
was trailing by 23 points.

"He's getting better each day," Kings coach Rick Adelman said.
"You saw him make some plays today he hasn't done. I think he's
getting some confidence more than anything in his ankle. He's
shooting the ball better, and I think you'll see him just
continue to get better."

"I'm feeling better," Webber admitted. "Hopefully, I'll get
back to the place where I can really say I'm feeling good. But
I'm getting better. All I can do right now is concentrate on
working hard, fighting through the injury and everything else".

Peja Stojakovic added 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting and credited
the Kings' defense, which held the Celtics to 39 percent
(34-of-87) shooting.

"Tonight was a great effort defensively," he said. "We have
been playing well on both offense and defense."

"I thought that the game was a solid win," Adelman added. "We
played well pretty much the whole game. The Celtics are a tough
team to play. Fortunately, we got the lead and maintained it the
whole game."

Paul Pierce scored 26 points for the Celtics, who concluded a
1-3 western road trip.

After Saturday's 105-103 overtime victory over the Clippers,
Boston appeared fatigued. Pierce had just six points in the
first quarter, when the Celtics shot 39 percent.

Boston has dropped three of its last four road games after an
8-4 start and has lost six straight here since February 16,
1996.

"This wasn't really a good trip," Pierce said. "We let a couple
of games slip away. It was a bad trip, but we're still second
place in the East. This team is used to bouncing back, and
that's what I think we're going to do."


L.A. LAKERS
VS.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
DATE:Dec. 25,2002

NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
PHILADELPHIA 21 28 17 16 82
LA LAKERS 18 21 21 28 88 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: PHI - ALLEN IVERSON 31, DIKEMBE MUTOMBO 12, DERRICK
COLEMAN 12
LAL - SAMAKI WALKER 18, BRIAN SHAW 13, TWO PLAYERS WITH 12

HIGH REBOUND: PHI - DIKEMBE MUTOMBO 13, DERRICK COLEMAN 10
LAL - KOBE BRYANT 11, ROBERT HORRY 11

HIGH ASSISTS: PHI - ERIC SNOW 10, ALLEN IVERSON 4
LAL - KOBE BRYANT 9, FOUR PLAYERS WITH 2

ATT: 18,997




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extended Box

PHILADELPHIA (82) AT LA LAKERS (88)

PHILADELPHIA
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

COLEMAN F 31 4-11 4-6 2 8 10 0 2 0 2 12
HARPRING F 33 5-7 0-1 2 2 4 2 4 1 2 11
MUTOMBO C 30 4-12 4-4 7 6 13 0 2 0 2 12
IVERSON G 44 11-28 7-8 0 8 8 4 2 1 4 31
SNOW G 39 2-8 0-0 0 5 5 10 2 1 3 4
MCKIE 29 4-13 0-0 0 4 4 0 2 1 2 8
BLOUNT 21 1-2 0-0 3 2 5 1 3 1 0 2
BELL 12 1-4 0-0 1 2 3 1 2 1 0 2
RUFFIN 1 0-0 0-2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
BROWN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
CUMMINGS DNP - COACH'S DECISION
DALEMBERT DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240 32-85 15-21 15 38 53 18 19 6 15 82
(.376) (.714) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 15(20 PTS)

LA LAKERS
REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

FOX F 20 1-7 0-0 1 5 6 0 2 0 0 2
MEDVEDENKO F 23 6-8 0-0 1 2 3 2 3 0 1 12
WALKER C 37 7-9 4-6 3 7 10 1 2 1 1 18
BRYANT G 42 6-19 0-0 0 11 11 9 1 0 3 12
FISHER G 26 3-10 1-2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 9
HORRY 22 2-5 2-2 2 9 11 1 2 2 1 7
GEORGE 23 2-7 3-6 2 1 3 1 3 2 0 7
HUNTER 18 2-7 0-0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 6
MADSEN 11 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2
SHAW 18 4-11 2-2 0 3 3 2 0 0 2 13
RICHMOND DNP - COACH'S DECISION
MCCOY DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240 34-85 12-18 9 40 49 20 19 7 10 88
(.400) (.667) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 11(13 PTS)

PHILADELPHIA 21 28 17 16 - 82
LA LAKERS 18 21 21 28 - 88

BLOCKED SHOTS: PHILADELPHIA - IVERSON 2, MUTOMBO. LA LAKERS - HUNTER,
GEORGE, HORRY.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: PHILADELPHIA 3-8 (.375), COLEMAN 0-1, HARPRING 1-1,
IVERSON 2-5, MCKIE 0-1. LA LAKERS 8-25 (.320), FOX 0-4, MEDVEDENKO 0-1,
BRYANT 0-2, FISHER 2-6, HORRY 1-3, GEORGE 0-1, HUNTER 2-3, SHAW 3-5.
TECHNICALS: PHILADELPHIA - HARPRING, LA LAKERS - BRYANT.
OFFICIALS: BERNIE FRYER, LEON WOOD, VIOLET PALMER.
A - 18,997. T - 2:20.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (82)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Coleman 31 4-11 4-6 2-10 0 2 12
Harpring 33 5-7 0-1 2-4 2 4 11
Mutombo 30 4-12 4-4 7-13 0 2 12
Iverson 44 11-28 7-8 0-8 4 2 31
Snow 39 2-8 0-0 0-5 10 2 4
Mckie 29 4-13 0-0 0-4 0 2 8
Blount 21 1-2 0-0 3-5 1 3 2
Bell 12 1-4 0-0 1-3 1 2 2
Ruffin 1 0-0 0-2 0-1 0 0 0
Brown DNP - coach's decision
Cummings DNP - coach's decision
Dalembert DNP - coach's decision
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 240 32-85 15-21 15-53 18 19 82
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.376, FT-.714. 3-Point Goals:
3-8, .375 (Coleman 0-1, Harpring 1-1, Iverson
2-5, Mckie 0-1). Team rebounds: 6. Blocked shots:
3 (Iverson 2, Mutombo). Turnovers: 15 (Iverson 4,
Snow 3, Coleman 2, Harpring 2, Mckie 2, Mutombo
2). Steals: 6 (Bell, Blount, Harpring, Iverson,
Mckie, Snow).

LA LAKERS (88)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Fox 20 1-7 0-0 1-6 0 2 2
Medvedenko 23 6-8 0-0 1-3 2 3 12
Walker 37 7-9 4-6 3-10 1 2 18
Bryant 42 6-19 0-0 0-11 9 1 12
Fisher 26 3-10 1-2 0-2 2 2 9
Horry 22 2-5 2-2 2-11 1 2 7
George 23 2-7 3-6 2-3 1 3 7
Hunter 18 2-7 0-0 0-0 2 3 6
Madsen 11 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 2
Shaw 18 4-11 2-2 0-3 2 0 13
Richmond DNP - coach's decision
Mccoy DNP - coach's decision
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 240 34-85 12-18 9-49 20 19 88
_______________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.667. 3-Point Goals:
8-25, .320 (Fox 0-4, Medvedenko 0-1, Bryant 0-2,
Fisher 2-6, Horry 1-3, George 0-1, Hunter 2-3,
Shaw 3-5). Team rebounds: 8. Blocked shots: 3
(Hunter, George, Horry). Turnovers: 11 (Bryant 3,
Hunter 2, Shaw 2, Horry, Medvedenko, Walker).
Steals: 7 (Fisher 2, George 2, Horry 2, Walker).
____________________________________________
Philadelphia 21 28 17 16 - 82
La Lakers 18 21 21 28 - 88
____________________________________________
Technical fouls: Philadelphia 1 (Harpring, 1:51
4th). La Lakers 1 (Bryant, 1:51 4th). Flagrant
fouls: None. A: 18,997. T: 2:20. Officials:
Bernie Fryer, Leon Wood, Violet Palmer.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Game Story

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers proved they are
more than a two-man team.

With Shaquille O'Neal on the injured list and Kobe Bryant
struggling, the Lakers received significant contributions from
others in rallying from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter
for an 88-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in a rematch of
the 2001 NBA Finals.

Samaki Walker made the start at center and collected a
season-high 18 points to go with 10 rebounds while Stanislav
Medevedenko added 12 points for Los Angeles after O'Neal was
placed on the injured list with toe problems.

"Well, that was a good win for our team," Lakers coach Phil
Jackson said. "A lot of momentum in the second half, good
defense and an enthusiastic crowd behind us is a big help for
us."

Philadelphia was in control through the first three quarters and
took a 73-60 advantage on a basket by Corie Blount with 9:34
remaining. Bryant had just four points on 2-of-14 shooting
through three quarters as he was clearly hampered by a strained
muscle in his rib cage.

But his jumper triggered a 19-2 run that gave Los Angeles the
lead for good at 79-75 with 4:17 to play. Lindsey Hunter had a
pair of 3-pointers in the burst, including one that gave the
Lakers a 77-75 lead.

"I think defensively we turned it up a lot," Hunter said. "We
limited them to one shots, created some turnovers. It was a
really good defensive effort by everybody."

A basket by Dikembe Mutombo pulled the Sixers within 79-77 with
2:41 remaining before Bryant finally got his game untracked. He
scored a pair of baskets and Robert Horry converted two foul
shots to extend to 85-77 with 27 seconds to go.

"I was just waiting and pacing myself throughout the game for
the right time to find my shots," Bryant said. "And it came in
the fourth."

Philadelphia made one last charge as Matt Harpring's 3-pointer
cut the deficit to 85-82 with 14 seconds left. Devean George
made one free throw and Allen Iverson turned over the ball on
the next possession to seal the Sixers' fate.

"We had this one in the bag," Iverson said. "We gave this one
away. We gave them a gift, a Christmas gift."

Despite his struggles, Bryant just missed a triple-double with
12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Brian Shaw scored 13
points off the bench and Horry added 11 boards.

But the production of Walker and Medevedenko was a major
surprise for two players who entered the contest averaging a
combined 9.7 points. Walker made 7-of-9 shots while Medevedenko
converted 6-of-8.

"Today I was a little more aggressive," Walker said. "I knew
where to move and felt a lot more comfortable."

Iverson led all scorers with 31 points for Philadelphia, which
was limited to six field goals in the fourth quarter. The
Sixers committed seven of their 15 turnovers in the final
quarter.

"We came out in the fourth quarter and made some driving plays
and all of a sudden, we started shooting jumpers and they
started making them," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "We think
we're going to outscore somebody and that's not how we play."

Mutombo had 12 points and 13 rebounds while Derrick Coleman also
had a double-double with 12 and 10. But the Sixers dropped the
opener of a seven-game Western Conference road trip and have
lost six of seven on the road.

"We don't finish games out," Iverson said. "The stuff worked, we
just had to stay with it. You have to keep playing defense,
obviously. When stuff works, you have to keep doing it."