Game 5: Kings - Jazz 111-91 (4-1)

Sacramento, USA, May 1 (AP) - John Stockton and Karl Malone headed for the bench together, and fans of the Sacramento Kings erupted in an emotional standing ovation for two of their team's toughest opponents.

Chris Webber had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points as the Kings advanced to the second round of the playoffs by beating the Jazz 111-91 Wednesday night to win their best-of-seven series in five games.

It was a fairly unremarkable victory for the deeper, more talented Kings, who never trailed while forcing their up-tempo style on the Jazz. Bobby Jackson had 18 points and six assists for Sacramento, which will face the winner of the Dallas-Portland series in the conference semifinals.

But the game probably will turn out to be a historic one. It might have been the final 48 minutes in the partnership between Stockton and Malone, the Jazz cornerstones who built a perennial winner in small-market Salt Lake City during 18 years together.

Malone finished with 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting, and Stockton had eight points in 28 minutes. Sloan removed them simultaneously with 5:01 left -- and the Arco Arena fans couldn't contain themselves. The Jazz already were in trouble when Greg Ostertag was ejected in the first quarter. Ostertag, the inconsistent center who was effective in two of the series' first four games, was tossed for a tirade against referee Bernie Fryer, and the Kings' frontcourt capitalized on his absence all night.

Sacramento built an 18-point in the first half, and the Jazz never got closer than 10 in the final 20 minutes.

Game 4: Kings - Jazz 99-82 (3-1)

Salt Lake City, USA, April 29 (AP) - Peja Stojakovic scored 15 of his 27 points in the third quarter and Chris Webber had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Kings turned a four-point halftime deficit into a 99-82 win over the Jazz on Monday night.

The Kings could be last team to beat Stockton and Malone in Salt Lake City if the 41-year-old Stockton retires and Malone leaves as a free agent. Both Stockton and Malone will decide their futures when the season ends, which will be soon if the Jazz can't pull an upset in Sacramento.

Malone led the Jazz with 24 points and Stockton had 12 points and seven assists. Neither wanted to talk much about the future after the game. Sacramento was just 17-for-50 from the field in the first half and trailed 41-37 despite causing 14 turnovers. But the Kings started hitting shots from everywhere in the third quarter and quickly turned the game into a runaway.

Stojakovic hit his second straight 3-pointer to tie the game at 47, then put back his own offensive rebound to give the Kings their first lead since late in the first quarter. The Jazz struggled with just three field goals in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the third quarter as the Kings began to pull away.

The Jazz got to 59-57 on two free throws by Malone with 3:10 left in the third period, then the Kings went on a 14-2 run to close the quarter. Sacramento was 15-for-25 from the floor in the period, getting a few easy layups off fast breaks and three 3-pointers from Stojakovic. The Kings didn't allow the Jazz to get closer than nine the rest of the way.

Game 3: Jazz - Kings 107-104 (1-2)

Salt lake City, USA, April 27 (AP) - After Game 2 last Monday, an easy Sacramento victory that put the Kings up 2-0 in the series, the Kings appeared to be cruising toward the second round.

But the Jazz revived their chances of getting out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Sacramento, which went 3-1 against Utah in the regular season and knocked the Jazz from the playoffs in the first round a year ago, is still leading the series, but there is an optimism in Utah that wasn't there last week.

The Kings got Chris Webber back Saturday after he sat out practice last week with a sore lower back, which he hurt Monday night in the second quarter.

Webber had 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. He said Sunday his back held up during the game and he expected to be fine Monday.

Game 2: Kings - Jazz 108-95 (2-0)

Vlade Divac's three-finger salute

Sacramento, UNITED STATES, April 21 (AFP) - The Sacramento Kings have to feel good about dominating a National Basketball Association playoff game without their best player.

Peja Stojakovic scored 29 points as the host Kings overcame the loss of Chris Webber on Monday and took a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round series with a 108-95 victory over the Utah Jazz.

"I got hot and got the ball in the right position," said Stojakovic. "When Chris came out we all got together and stepped it up."

Webber, who had 26 points and 11 rebounds in Game One, left the game after suffering a strained lower back 33 seconds into the second quarter.

Instead of struggling without their offensive centrepiece, the Kings took over almost immediately after he went to the locker room.

Utah scored the first basket after Webber left, but Sacramento responded with a 14-2 run.

Bobby Jackson and Scot Pollard scored four points apiece during the spurt, which gave the Kings a 41-26 cushion.

Sacramento never relinquished control and has a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for the first time in 51 years.

"Everything we talked about we did tonight," said Kings coach Rick Adelman. "We got to come back in the next game and keep trying to get better."

Jackson and Vlade Divac scored 15 points as the Kings shot 54 percent (44-of-82) from the floor.

Game 1: Sacramento - Utah 96-90 (1-0)

Kings' players celebrate their triumph over Utah

Sacramento, UNITED STATES, April 19 (AP) - Chris Webber had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic scored 16 points as the Kings showed the discipline and versatility they'll need to contend for the NBA title, beating the Jazz 96-90 Saturday night in their playoff opener.

Except for a clumsy start, the Kings were sharp and effective while playing Utah's famously deliberate style. There were few fast breaks and even fewer easy baskets, but the high-scoring Kings never trailed in the final 30 minutes.

Jim Jackson scored 15 points for the Kings, who are facing the Jazz in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in five seasons.

As usual in the teams' meetings, Utah controlled the tempo - and as usual, the Kings won. The Pacific Division champions have won 13 of their last 15 against Utah, including a 3-1 series victory in the first round last season.

The seventh-seeded Jazz got an outstanding game from Karl Malone, who had 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the first game of his 18th trip to the playoffs.

In the first game of what might be the final playoff run in Malone's 18-year partnership with John Stockton, the Jazz shut down Sacramento's fast break, rebounded well and kept the score low against the NBA's third-best offense.

The Jazz pulled to 78-76 on Malone's free throws with 3:13 left, but Bibby drove past Stockton and dished for consecutive baskets - a jumper by Webber and a 3-pointer by Stojakovic.