RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Chris Webber gave Detroit Pistons
fans more reasons to hope he chooses to come home when he becomes a
free agent after the season.
Webber scored 31 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the
Sacramento to a 100-93 win over the Pistons in their home opener
Friday night.
The Detroit native and former Michigan star was greeted with
cheers during introductions and numerous fans at The Palace
screamed for him to sign with the Pistons.
"Yeah, I heard it," Webber said. "But I tried to block it out
and keep playing. I haven't gotten a good cheer here since my
rookie year. It felt good to be home."
Webber gave out 90 tickets to friends and family members.
"It's always good to see everybody and see what's been going
on," Webber said. "Since I don't get to see them at Thanksgiving
or Christmas, this is like my Christmas."
As a crowd waited for Webber to leave the lockerroom, Jason
Webber said his family is not pushing for his brother to play for
the Pistons.
"I don't think this would be a good place for him to play
because of all of these distractions," Jason Webber said. "It's
going to be his decision to make alone, but I think professionally,
he should stay away from here so he can just concentrate on
basketball."
Sacramento controlled most of the game, but the Pistons made it
interesting in the final minutes.
The Kings led by 11 with 5:05 left before Detroit went on a 10-2
run to cut the deficit to 96-93 with 1:08 to go. The Pistons could
not get any closer as they turned the ball over twice in the final
minute.
Sacramento scored 32 points off of Detroit's 25 turnovers.
"Thank God we weren't playing a good defensive team," Detroit
coach George Irvine said. "it's pretty sad when you play a team
that puts no defensive pressure on you and you still turn the ball
over 25 times."
Detroit's Jerry Stackhouse scored 22 points, but shot just
6-of-18 after going 7-of-21 in a loss to Boston. John Wallace added
14.
Sacramento's Scot Pollard, the Pistons' first-round pick in
1997, scored 11 points in the opening quarter and finished with 15
and a career-high 14 rebounds.
The Kings led by 11 on three occasions in the second quarter and
had a 56-49 lead at halftime.
Detroit went on a 10-0 run midway through the third to take a
65-61 lead, but the Kings responded with a 17-6 run to earn a 78-71
lead after three quarters.
Sacramento's Bobby Jackson had 16 points and seven rebounds.
Game
notes
Both teams made 24-of-29 free throws. ... Sacramento's
Jason Williams, who violated the NBA's drug policy, must sit out of
two more games of his five-game suspension. ... The Kings first
four road games all mark home openers for their opponents. ...
Detroit coach George Irvine would like Stackhouse to pass more
early in games to get his teammates involved offensively. ...
Detroit's Eric Montross scored eight points, which doubled his
season-high from 1999-00.
|
|
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 80
Washington 76
Boston 93
Toronto 91
Charlotte 83
Miami 79
Philadelphia 87
Orlando 80
Sacramento 100
Detroit 93
New Jersey 92
Chicago 82
|
