Streak Stopped in Portland

Predrag Stojakovic

New York, USA, January 22 - Bonzi Wells scored eight of his career-high 34 points in overtime as the Trail Blazers posted a 116-110 triumph over the Sacramento Kings, who had their season-high 12-game winning streak snapped.

Stojakovicb voted Europe's Best Predrag "Peja" Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings won the coveted 2001 Euroscar, La Gazzetta dello Sport's annual award to the top European basketball player. The newpaper is Europe's top selling and Italy's oldest daily sports newspaper with a daily circulation of more than 700,000. Since its inception in 1979, the 23rd annual Euroscar was created to recognize the top European basketball player. For the third time in the history of the award, the top three spots have been awarded to NBA players. Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) and Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies) round out the top three. Previously in 1993, the late Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc (Atlanta Hawks) and Detlef Schrempf (formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers) were the top three winners respectively while in 1996 it was Kukoc, Predrag Danilovic (formerly of the Dallas Mavericks) and Arvydas Sabonis (formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers).

Chris Webber had a game-high 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but the Kings endured their first loss since a 101-85 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers on December 22.

Predrag "Peja" Stojakovic had 21points, and two rebounds in 44 minutes, while another Yugoslav in Kings, Vlade Divac added seven points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals in 36 minutes.