SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ? Chris Webber looked like his old self in lifting the Sacramento Kings to a narrow victory.
Webber had a season-high 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Kings rallied in the fourth quarter for a 107-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Urged by teammates Mike Bibby and Doug Christie to take a more active role in the final quarter, Webber delivered.
The Kings outscored the Grizzlies 28-18 in the fourth quarter and got 13 points from Webber. He mixed in several impressive dunks and perimeter shots to lead Sacramento to its fourth straight victory. The Kings are 4-0 at home this season.
Webber was able to show off some of his earlier form. His play has been inconsistent since returning from a knee injury in the second half of last season.
“That’s what I like to do,” Webber said. “I like the fact that I’m feeling more confident and aggressive.”
It was another disappointing night for the Grizzlies, who lost for the 13th straight time in Sacramento. Their last road victory over the Kings was April 19, 1998.
“We approach it the same no matter where we play, but this is a tough place to play,” said Stromile Swift, who scored 23 of the 57 points tallied by Grizzlies’ reserves.
With the Kings ahead by one point, Webber made a jumper from the right side to put the Kings ahead 106-103 with 16.1 seconds remaining.
Mike Miller missed a desperate shot, and Bobby Jackson got the rebound and was fouled. He made 1 of 2 for a 107-103 lead.
“He (Webber) did a lot of things tonight and that’s what we keep talking about,” Kings coach Rick Adelman said. “You can’t look at one, two games, you’ve got to look at the progression.”
Mike Bibby had 18 points, Peja Stojakovic scored 17 and Doug Christie had 16 points and nine assists for the Kings (5-4), who went over the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Webber made a jumper, and Stojakovic connected a 3-pointer from the corner, ending a 12-1 run and putting the Kings ahead 103-98 with 2:34 remaining.
“They were a 50-win team last year, they’re going to be a playoff team again,” Adelman said. “So it’s the type of game we just have to build on.”
Pau Gasol had 17 points and 18 rebounds, but also six turnovers. Jason Williams made three 3-pointers and had 17 points. Miller had 13, and Earl Watson added 12.
“We denied their post players in the third quarter and didn’t give them easy baskets,” Swift said. “But we got away from that in the fourth quarter and they made a run. When a team like that gets rolling they are tough to stop.”
Trailing by nine points at the half, Memphis gained control in the third quarter, using a 9-0 run in the final two minutes in outscoring the Kings 34-17 and taking an 87-79 lead into the fourth.
In a first half that resembled a free-throwing shooting contest at times, Christie scored 12 points and Stojakovic had 11, helping the Kings to a 62-53 lead.
