Hornets 108, Kings 84
Thursday February 06, 2003By BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Forward Jamal Mashburn is comfortable running the New Orleans Hornets' offense when point guard Baron Davis is out of the lineup.
Mashburn had 26 points, including four 3-pointers, and five assists as New Orleans beat the Sacramento Kings 108-84 on Wednesday night.
Hornets coach Paul Silas called Mashburn's hybrid position ``point-forward.''
``He has a presence there. He's making great shots,'' Silas said.
Davis had knee surgery last week and is expected to be out for at least another month.
With the victory over the Kings, Mashburn concluded a three-game tear heading into his first All-Star game. He scored 39 and 30 points in his previous two games.
``I'm just going out there, being aggressive, doing what I have to do to help this team win,'' Mashburn said. ``That's my main focus by any means necessary.''
David Wesley added 17 points and nine assists for New Orleans, which has won two straight.
Peja Stojakovic scored 20 to lead Sacramento, which appeared tired from playing its third road game in four days, including a dramatic victory in Dallas a night earlier. The Kings have lost five of their last seven.
``After the way we played Tuesday night against Dallas, we needed extra energy,'' Stojakovic said. ``They jumped on us from the first moment. Every time we'd make a mistake ... they'd score easy buckets.''
After shooting well early, the Kings struggled to hit shots through most of the last three quarters and trailed by 24 early in the fourth. Sacramento shot under 39 percent for the game.
With Chris Webber out with a sprained ankle and center Vlade Divac leaving with a strained back after the first half, a visibly weary Sacramento shot only 33 percent in the third as New Orleans pulled away.
``They were missing some pieces and played a tough game (Tuesday) night so I thought we did a good job taking advantage of that,'' said P.J. Brown, who scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. ``We made a point to get on them early and make them play catch-up.''
Mashburn scored six points during a 13-2 run that put the Hornets up 80-60, and the Hornets continued to answer whatever the Kings threw at them.
When Stojakovic hit a 3-pointer to make it 82-65 near the end of the third quarter, Wesley came right back with a 3-pointer.
The Hornets shot 49 percent and outrebounded the Kings 52-41.
Reserve guard Jim Jackson scored 19 for the Kings. Keon Clark, who played for Divac in the second half, had 10 points and nine rebounds. Mike Bibby had 11 points but did not score in the second half and sat out the fourth quarter.
Adelman said his team will need to figure out how to win with its injury-riddled lineup.
``We've got a lot of work to do when we get back from the break,'' Adelman said. ``I told them in the locker room tonight, 'The cavalry is not coming over the mountain.' We showed what we could do (in Dallas) but we've got to be playing hard all the time.''< ^Notes:@ George Lynch got his second straight start for the Hornets, but only his third of the season. Silas put Lynch on Stojakovic, shifting Wesley from shooting guard to point guard, as he did last game. Lynch scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. ... Bryce Drew was back in the Hornets' lineup after missing 12 games with an inflamed foot.
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