Webber Carries Kings Despite Finger Injury

Chris Webber doesn’t know if he’ll play the next two games. His teammates are glad he finished this one.

Webber, playing with a dislocated right index finger, had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 92-88 victory over the 76ers on Wednesday night at Philadelphia.

“It was bad,� said Webber, injured diving for a loose ball. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to play against New York and Toronto. What we did tonight is what Philly is known for, playing through injuries. That’s what we’re trying to be known for.�

The Kings won their fourth in a row and improved the NBA’s best record to 46-17.

Webber was hurt at the end of the first quarter, but returned midway through the second. The injury seemed to affect his shooting. He missed 11 of 13 shots in one span before scoring 11 in the fourth.

Allen Iverson scored 32 points for the 76ers, who had won four in a row.

“I don’t care about moral victories,� said Iverson, who was seven for 10 in the first quarter, but missed 15 of his last 21 shots. “We’re a better team than those guys. We had it and gave it away.�

Philadelphia’s Derrick Coleman had to be restrained from going after Webber afterward. Both players got technical fouls with 32 seconds left.

“He’s from Detroit, man,� said Webber, a fellow Michigan native who has known Coleman since he was 8.

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Houston 96, Minnesota 95--Steve Francis scored 21 points, including the game-winning free throw with 9.7 seconds left at Minneapolis, as the Rockets closed the game with a 19-7 run to send the Timberwolves to their fifth consecutive loss.

Chauncey Billups led the Timberwolves with 23 points.

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Orlando 119, Phoenix 114--Troy Hudson had a career-high 34 points and Tracy McGrady scored all 10 of the Magic’s points in overtime at Orlando, Fla.

McGrady finished with 35 points, going four for six from the field and two for four from the foul line in overtime. He also had eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

The Suns were led by Stephon Marbury with 31 points and 10 assists

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Boston 97 New Jersey 89--Paul Pierce scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half, making six three-pointers to help pull the Celtics within three games of the Eastern Conference-leading Nets at Boston.

Antoine Walker added 30 as Boston won its sixth in a row. New Jersey lost its seventh consecutive road game.

Jason Kidd had 23 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Nets.

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Detroit 85, Cleveland 84--Corliss Williamson scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons overcame the absence of Jerry Stackhouse at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Stackhouse was sidelined by nagging shoulder and hip problems.

Chucky Atkins led the Pistons with 19 points. Andre Miller had 16 points for the Cavaliers.

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Atlanta 105, Denver 102--Jason Terry scored 31 points as the Hawks earned their 12th consecutive home victory over the Nuggets.

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Seattle SuperSonic Coach Nate McMillan and forward Rashard Lewis were fined $7,500 apiece by the NBA for their actions after a recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The league also fined New Jersey Net Coach Byron Scott $7,500 for publicly criticizing officials after a 96-90 loss at Seattle last Saturday.

McMillan was fined for publicly criticizing officials, and Lewis for verbally abusing officials and failing to leave the court fast enough after the SuperSonics’ 119-108 loss at Dallas on Monday.