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Kings defeat Cavaliers 95-89
( 2004-01-23 11:47) (Agencies)

Peja Stojakovic scored 27 of his 37 points in the second half Thursday night and the Sacramento Kings opened their longest road trip of the season with a 95-89 win over the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stojakovic, on a tear of late, scored 20 in the third quarter and the Kings held off the Cavs, who were still missing LeBron James but nearly rallied from a nine-point deficit in the final minutes.

Brad Miller had a key putback off a missed free throw with 57.5 seconds left as the Kings (30-10) became the first Western Conference team to reach 30 wins.

Vlade Divac had 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Miller had 15 rebounds for Sacramento, which began a six-game trip with its 10th win in 12 games.

Dajuan Wagner had 20 points, and Carlos Boozer 15 with 11 rebounds for the Cavs.

Cleveland only dressed nine players and was again without James, who still hasn't been able to run on his sprained right ankle and had to sit for the second straight game.

The Cavs were also short-handed because Jeff McInnis and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, acquired Wednesday in a trade with Portland for Darius Miles, hadn't had their physicals yet.

Still, Cleveland was within 89-87 with 1:13 remaining when Wagner made two free throws.

Divac missed a free throw ¡ª he clanked his last four from the line ¡ª with 57.5 seconds to go, but Miller smartly sneaked behind Boozer on the baseline to grab the rebound and score while being fouled. He missed the free throw.

Boozer hit two foul shots to make it 91-89, but Mike Bibby penetrated in the lane and made a nice pass underneath to Divac, whose layup sealed it with 24.7 seconds to play.

Kevin Ollie, who is losing his starting job to McInnis, had nine points, nine assists and matched a career high with 10 rebounds for Cleveland.

After scoring just 10 points ¡ª all in a 1:29 span of the opening quarter ¡ª in the first half, Stojakovic hit all four of his 3-pointers and converted two three-point plays in the third as the Kings opened an eight-point lead.

The Kings shot 74 percent (14-of-19) in the quarter and made five of six 3s.

Sacramento, which shot a season-low 33 percent in a loss on Tuesday to Portland, started out hot from the floor. But the Kings went just 1-for-15 during a stretch of the second quarter that allowed the Cavs to build a six-point lead.

But Bibby hit two free throws and drained a 3-pointer as the Kings tied it at 41 by halftime.

Notes:@ James was walking better than he has all week and said he hopes to play Saturday against Philadelphia. "I look like I can play," he said, "but no high-flying right now. It feels much better." ... McInnis and Boumtje Boumtje arrived during the game and are expected to practice Friday. Silas said McInnis will start against the 76ers, and that's fine with the seven-year veteran, whose arrival will free James of his point guard duties. "I've been playing and I'm ready," McInnis said. "They want me to handle the ball. That's fine with me." ... The Kings came in ranked first in the league in scoring, field-goal percentage and assists. They're No. 2 in free-throw percentage. ... McInnis got a cool welcome to Cleveland. "I was eager to get here, but when I got off the plane and saw all that snow, man, I was freezing," the North Carolina native said.

 
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