Predrag Stojakovic scores career-high 41 points

Predrag Stojakovic drives to the basket (PHOTO: AP)

Sacramento, USA, December 23, 2003 (AP) - Serbia-Montenegro's Peja Stojakovic scored a career-high 41 points, as the Sacramento rallied from an early 17-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-97 Tuesday night. Kings have won four straight and 16 of their last 18.

NBA suspends Stojakovic for one game

New York, Dec 24 (AP) - Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings was suspended for one game by the NBA on Wednesday for making improper contact with a game official. Stojakovic, who scored a career-high 41 points in the Kings' 114-97 victory over Memphis Tuesday night's game, brushed official Bernie Fryer with 1:17 remaining in the second period and received a technical foul. "I overreacted on that," Stojakovic said. "I apologized to him at halftime." Stojakovic will miss the Kings' game on Christmas Day against the Dallas Mavericks

Pau Gasol lead Memphis with 23 points while James Posey added 18.

Brad Miller had his fifth straight double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds, and reserve guard Bobbie Jackson scored 10 of his 20 points in the second quarter as Sacramento (20-6) trimmed a 17-point deficit to 54-52 by halftime.

But Stojakovic, who entered tied for third in the NBA with a 24.3 per-game scoring average, was the main reason the Kings won their fourth straight and 16 of their last 18. He made five of Sacramento's nine 3-pointers, and converted 14-of-15 free throws, including three with 11.7 seconds left to reach his career high.

Predrag Stojakovic's statistics