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Kings bat Wolves 104-78, force Game 7
Chris Webber guaranteed a Game 7, and the Sacramento star got all kinds of help in making it happen. Mike Bibby had 16 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals despite foul trouble and the energetic Kings used an inspired effort on both ends of the floor to survive elimination, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 104-87 in Game 6 of their second-round series Sunday.
Peja Stojakovic finally found his shot, scoring 22 points and swishing a long 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that gave Sacramento the momentum in another testy affair between these teams. Webber had 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Doug Christie had 16 points and sparked a strong defensive effort against league MVP Kevin Garnett and company, and Sacramento just plain outhustled the Wolves to loose balls and rebounds.
Latrell Sprewell scored 27 points and Garnett added 19, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves, who are trying to reach their first Western Conference finals. Sam Cassell scored 16 points before fouling out with 2:32 left, and he was hit with a technical afterward for arguing. Cassell had to be held back from an official by teammate Ervin Johnson.
The Kings were fired up from the start, jumping out to a big lead early and calmly weathering a 17-0 run by Minnesota late in the first quarter. After losing to Minnesota at Arco Arena in three straight games this season — including 114-113 in OT in Game 3 — Sacramento has won its last two at home to stay in the series.
Kings guard Anthony Peeler was ejected with 13.5 seconds left in the third after throwing an elbow at Garnett. Peeler had also elbowed Garnett on the previous possession, then Garnett stuck his elbow into Peeler's chest when the Kings came down on offense late in the third quarter.
Garnett was still grimacing from the previous hit when Peeler struck him again and immediately got thrown out. Peeler and Garnett have been sparring all series.
Garnett also received a technical and went to the bench. The fans then started throwing glow sticks used for pregame festivities onto the court. Vlade Divac lightly shoved a Minnesota assistant coach during the scuffle but was quickly pushed away.
The first elbow thrown by Peeler was similar to the hit teammate Brad Miller took in the midsection in a collision with Minnesota guard Darrick Martin in Friday's Game 5. Martin fell, and as he lay face-down on the floor, Miller pushed him hard in the back. Both players were tossed.
Miller was fined US$10,000 by the NBA on Sunday for an obscene gesture toward fans following his ejection, then went out and scored 17 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made five assists off the bench.
While the T-Wolves took better care of the ball than in Game 4 here Wednesday when they made 24 turnovers, Sacramento's defense made it hard for Minnesota to find a consistent rhythm.
Constantly trying to play catch-up — Sacramento led by as many as 16 early in the fourth quarter — didn't allow Minnesota to relax on offense.
Sprewell, who had 34 points, seven rebounds and six assists in Friday's 86-74 Game 5 victory, attacked the basket and looked to shoot every time he touched the ball early, scoring 12 points in the first period. He was held to two second-quarter points.
Neither team went to free-throw line in the first quarter, with the first free throw coming 6:22 before halftime.
Bibby was whistled for his fourth foul with 9:01 left in the third and the officials began calling a tighter game after letting the little things early.
Sacramento made nine of its first 12 shots to build a 19-11 lead before a 17-0 run gave the Timberwolves a 30-24 lead after one quarter. The Kings shot 60 percent in the first half on the way to a 57-44 halftime lead. They shot 50 percent after making just 33 percent of their shots in Game 5. Notes:@ There was talk Kings G Bobby Jackson might return for the Kings, but Jackson watched in street clothes. He has a slight abdominal tear and hasn't played in the postseason. ... Recently retired baseball slugger Greg Vaughn, a Sacramento native, was among the celebrities in attendance. ... Fan Warren Givens spent his 96th birthday at the game.
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