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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- If Karl Malone sounds like a broken record, it's because he keeps reaching all kinds of milestones this season.
|  | | Karl Malone muscled in 16 points to go with seven rebounds, including the 13,000th of his career. |
Malone had 16 points and seven rebounds, passing the 13,000-rebound mark over his 16-year career as the Utah Jazz beat the Charlotte Hornets 87-76 on Thursday night.
Three minutes after tipoff, Malone's defensive board put him into an exclusive group whose members have also scored at least 26,000 points. Malone passed the 32,000-scoring plateau in Tuesday's win over Seattle.
"It might sound like a broken record but when you're still playing the game, you don't think about that much," Malone said. "When I'm done and I walk away, I'll look back and say that was pretty awesome."
The others with 26,000 points and 13,000 rebounds are Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes and
Hakeem Olajuwon.
"I never grew up watching basketball but I've heard those names
before. To be in the same company is pretty special," Malone said.
Donyell Marshall scored 20 points, John Stockton had 11 and Olden Polynice added 10 as Utah won for the sixth time in seven games.
David Wesley scored 15, Elden Campbell had 14 and Jamal Mashburn
added 13, all in the second half, but the Hornets crumbled under 22
turnovers, including 11 in the decisive second quarter.
"You can't have 22 turnovers," said Charlotte's P.J. Brown.
"You're never going to beat anybody."
Malone, named earlier this week to his 13th All-Star game,
missed the two shots he took in the first quarter but scored 12
points in the second period to help the Jazz erase a 22-15 deficit
and take the lead for good.
Utah went ahead for good with a 9-4 run late in the first half
to build a 40-35 lead. The Jazz shot 40 percent in the first half
but led 44-38 at the break, aided by Charlotte's 11 second-quarter
turnovers.
"I thought we ran the floor well, we just couldn't find a way
to put the ball in the basket," Wesley said. "The defense was
there. We held them to 87 points and that's enough to win. We just
couldn't find the offense."
The Jazz got a lift in the second period and again in the third
from their reserves, as Danny Manning, Jacque Vaughn and John
Crotty kept the momentum going while Stockton and Malone were on
the bench.
"The second unit did a great job of getting some energy when we
needed it," Vaughn said. "We were able to make them shoot tough
shots, and it gave us the ability to make transition baskets."
It has been a historic season for Malone, a two-time league MVP who continues to leave his mark on the NBA record books.
In December, he passed Wilt Chamberlain for second place on the league's career scoring list. If he plays near his rebounding average, Malone is on track to reach Robert Parish's record of 10,117 defensive boards by mid-April.
Malone can also set NBA records for free throws made and
attempted.
"I realize that every game I play, something could happen,"
Malone said. "That's kind of a nice feeling for me, every time you
walk out or suit up. That means you have to stay healthy for a long
time."
Game notes
Stockton played in game No. 1,303 over his 17-year career,
tying Hayes for fifth place on the NBA's career list. ... Wesley
made his 250th straight start, extending his Charlotte record. ...
Mashburn, averaging 20.4 points, went 0-for-9 in the first half.
... Referee Terry Durham's whistle-clock transmitter malfunctioned
the entire game. ... The Hornets have won twice in the last nine
games.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 90
Cleveland 81
Dallas 95
Miami 91
Philadelphia 87
New York 80
LA Clippers 101
Houston 84
Utah 87
Charlotte 76
Portland 100
Phoenix 92
Seattle 97
Chicago 91
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Karl Malone Official Site
Bryon Russell Official Site
Baron Davis Official Site
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