SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ? Chris Webber scored eight of his 32 points in overtime and also had 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals in the Sacramento Kings’ fifth straight victory, 113-107 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Nick Van Exel forced overtime by hitting a baseline 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left in regulation, then had another chance in the extra period but missed a 3 under pressure with 14 seconds left. Webber, who had his fifth consecutive double-double, made four free throws in the waning seconds to seal it.
The Blazers missed several shots in the final 30 seconds of regulation but grabbed four offensive rebounds to stay in it. Ruben Patterson got the rebound on the second missed free throw by Theo Ratliff and passed to Van Exel, who hit a tying 3.
After starting the game 0-for-5, Cuttino Mobley had 20 points, six assists and four rebounds, making four 3-pointers. Brad Miller added 16 points and eight rebounds and Mike Bibby 14 points and nine assists in Sacramento’s ninth victory in 11 games.
Van Exel had 30 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals and Joel Przybilla had career highs of 17 points and 22 rebounds for the Blazers, who lost their fourth straight and 10th of 12 in the first of four meetings between these teams this season.
Portland will be happy to be home after concluding an exhausting 10-day, six-game cross-country road trip that covered 10,200 miles.
Ratliff, benched the past four games for his poor play, returned to Portland’s starting lineup and James Thomas, on the final day of his 10-day contract, went back to the bench. Ratliff finished with eight points and 12 rebounds, but left during overtime with a left leg cramp.
Portland’s record at this juncture (15-22) is the club’s worst since the 1975-76 season, when the Blazers were 13-24 through 37 games.
The Blazers led by as many as 12 in the second quarter, but the Kings fought back to pull within 50-47 at halftime.
Notes: Webber committed four turnovers. … Blazers F Darius Miles, on the injured list with a left knee contusion, ran Monday and that caused his knee to swell again. He will have fluid drained from the knee Wednesday once the team gets back home. … Portland F Zach Randolph, who is averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, missed his third straight game with a right knee contusion. But he could be close to coming back. “He went out and tried to see if he can run,” coach Maurice Cheeks said. … Kings reserve G Maurice Evans already had a large bandage on his bald head covering 12 stitches he needed after landing on his head last Thursday against Utah. Now, he’s got another boo-boo — he cut himself on the rim just above his upper lip and had to be patched up.
