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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Corey Maggette didn't need to rush his shots.
The way he was playing, Maggette knew he'd get some extra time to
show what he can do.
|  | | Clippers guard Eric Piatkowski, left, goes chest-to-chest with Kings center Scot Pollard. |
Maggette scored a career-high 23 points, including 11 straight
in both the second and fourth quarters, as the Los Angeles Clippers
defeated Sacramento 88-81 Friday night to snap a three-game losing
streak.
"I wish I could get more opportunities, but maybe I can keep
earning them," said Maggette, who averages 16 minutes off the
bench. "Earlier in the season, I was just rushing and eager to get
in the game because I didn't play that much."
The Clippers beat the Kings for the first time in three meetings
this season, including their second in four days. They took the
Kings to overtime before losing Tuesday.
"It's a good win for us, especially after the way we played
them up there and had the opportunity to beat them and let it slip
away," Clippers coach Alvin Gentry said. "To have a close game
and to be able to win is very important."
Cherokee Parks grabbed 12 rebounds and Lamar Odom pulled down 11
for the Clippers, whose bench outscored the Kings' reserves 44-8.
The Kings fell to 6-4 without Chris Webber, who missed his 10th
game because of a sprained left ankle. He said he hopes to return
Tuesday.
"I feel a little useless and anxious," Webber said. "I
definitely know I have to be patient but still, it doesn't feel
good being patient."
Predrag Stojakovic led Sacramento with 31 points. Scot Pollard
added 15 points and a career-high 18 rebounds as Sacramento was
held well below its NBA-leading average of 101.1 points.
"We were aware that this team was going to be tough. They are a
group of young guys who play hard every night," Sacramento coach
Rick Adelman said. "They just played terrific."
Stojakovic had 20 points in the first half but Maggette's
defense held him in check in the second half.
"From the beginning of the game, they were more aggressive,"
Pollard said. "They wanted the game more. We seemed like we were
tired, but they are the ones that should have been tired. They
played back-to-back games and away last night."
The Kings closed within two points on a reverse dunk by Lawrence
Funderburke early in the fourth quarter. But the Clippers scored
six in a row to stay in front 73-65.
Maggette had the final basket in the spurt that also began his
personal 11-0 run and gave the Clippers an 82-77 lead with 2:30
remaining.
After Pollard converted two free throws, Odom turned the ball
over for Los Angeles. But Stojakovic missed a 9-footer for the
Kings.
Sean Rooks got fouled at the other end and made one of two. He
also blocked Jason Williams' layup in the final 30 seconds. Rookie
Darius Miles capped the Clippers' scoring with a fast-break slam
dunk.
"That last play was the best play of the game and it showed the
spirit of this team," Maggette said.
Sacramento scored the first five points of the third quarter to
draw within three. Although the Kings outscored the Clippers 21-17
in the period, Los Angeles got consecutive corner jumpers from
Cherokee Parks to lead by 10.
The Kings closed the quarter they way they began, scoring the
final six points to trail 64-60 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Clippers took their largest lead of 12 points on the
strength of a 14-0 run that snapped a tie midway through the second
quarter.
Sacramento ran off nine in a row before Keyon Dooling hit a
3-pointer with 10 seconds left to keep the Clippers ahead 47-39 at
halftime.
Game notes
A crowd of 19,415 gave the Clippers their sixth sellout of
the season. ... The Kings had won five straight against the
Clippers and seven of the previous nine. ... McInnis collided with
Sacramento's Doug Christie going for a loose ball at the end of the
third period. McInnis remained on the floor briefly and then walked
off, but returned with five minutes left in the game. ... Eleven of
the 14 teams Sacramento faces this month have .500 or better
records. ... The Kings finished February with an 8-6 record, the
first time they had a winning record in four consecutive months
since the franchise was in Kansas City in 1978-79.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Seattle 86
Indiana 83
Philadelphia 107
Washington 102
Charlotte 105
Atlanta 99
Boston 103
Utah 99
Orlando 120
Cleveland 94
Toronto 107
New Jersey 90
Miami 97
Detroit 93
Chicago 81
New York 72
Minnesota 89
Denver 71
LA Clippers 88
Sacramento 81
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