RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Vaguely aware that Karl Malone was trying
to make history, the Charlotte Hornets didn't want it to happen
against them.
| | Karl Malone shoots over the Hornets' P.J. Brown in the first half Saturday. | David Wesley scored 30 points, including a game-tying 3-pointer
with 57 seconds to play Saturday night, to lead the Charlotte
Hornets to a 94-89 victory over Utah, snapping the Jazz's six-game
winning streak.
Malone, trying to pass Wilt Chamberlain for second place on the
NBA's career scoring list, finished with 14 points on 5-for-13
shooting. He needs eight points to pass Chamberlain's mark of
31,419.
"Someone mentioned that he was closing in on the mark before
the game, but we didn't really care too much," Wesley said. "P.J.
(Brown) did a nice job on him to keep him from getting there."
Brown, known throughout his career as a defensive stopper,
limited Malone's good looks at the basket.
"I knew about the scoring record and I decided I just didn't
want him to have a ferocious night on me," Brown said. "If he had
got the mark, I would have shook his hand like a man and told him
congratulations.
"But I do prefer the way it happened."
Malone, who came into the game needing 22 points to pass
Chamberlain, didn't attempt a field goal until the 5:39 mark.
Malone's first points came on two free throws with 33 seconds
left in the first half, his lowest point total in one half of the
season. His first field goal didn't fall until his sixth attempt, a
17-footer on Utah's first possession of the second half.
"I've seen everything everyone has, so it wasn't something P.J.
did that stopped me," Malone said. "I took 13 shots and didn't
make half of them. You can't be Superman every night."
The Jazz took an 87-84 lead on Malone's two free throws with
1:21 to play. Wesley tied the game when he took a pass from Brown
at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer.
"We had the opportunity to get the rebound, we didn't, and the
ball somehow got back to David Wesley, who was hitting his shots,"
Malone said. "We didn't box out one time and they made us pay."
Jacque Vaughn missed a 3 at the other end and Brown got the
rebound.
Baron Davis then ran the length of the court as Charlotte coach
Paul Silas was frantically trying to get a timeout. Silas went
unnoticed and Davis was fouled by Bryon Russell as he drove to the
basket.
Davis hit both free throws to put Charlotte up 89-87 with 31
seconds remaining.
"I guess Baron was the hero," Silas said. "He drove to the
hoop and got the free throws, which was a huge play for us."
Utah failed to tie it on its next possession when Danny
Manning's off-balance jumper hit the rim and Jamal Mashburn got the
rebound. Mashburn was fouled and converted two free throws to give
the Hornets a 91-87 lead.
John Stockton hit a layup with 10 seconds to go to make it
91-89. Mashburn was fouled and made another free throw to stretch
it to 92-89. Stockton's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer fell
short.
"Charlotte outworked us all night," Utah coach Jerry Sloan
said. "They were a lot more physical than us and we settled for
too many shots on the perimeter."
Mashburn finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Charlotte.
Jamaal Magloire had 12 while playing a career-high 28 minutes.
Russell hit five 3-pointers and led Utah with 24 points.
Stockton finished with 11.
Game notes Malone's season low is 13 points. ... Utah's John Starks
scored seven points to pass the 10,000-point mark. He passed the
mark on his first basket of the night, a 3-pointer in the first
quarter, to give him 10,006 for his career. ... Mashburn has scored
in double figures in 13 straight games. ... Russell played in his
500th career game. ... The Hornets have won three of their last
eight games against Utah.
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NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
RECAPS
Atlanta 101 Milwaukee 94
Charlotte 94 Utah 89
Philadelphia 112 Cleveland 78
Orlando 95 New Jersey 74
New York 100 Minnesota 90
Miami 93 Washington 90
Portland 96 Houston 85
Denver 103 Seattle 92
Dallas 97 Golden State 78
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