| Show 23 SatunJayMay62000 Sports Standard-Examine- r Person’s shot just short for Sonics By JARED PAGE staff r Standad-Examne- - SALT LAKE CITY- Chuck Person missed his chance to be a Blazers loom on horizon first-rou- nd By TOM McEACHIN stall r Standard-Examne- SALT LAKE CITY -- The fust round went down to the very last shot and the next round shouldn't get any easier Next up for the Jazz are the Portland Trad Blazers the team that eliminated them horn the play offs last season and won the last three regular season matchups this season “We’ll have our hands full" Jazz guard John Stockton said "They pretty much manhandled us this year “ They have talent galore and they have rest They have all the el- ements” Karl Malone expects tough 7 physical battles when the senes opens on Sunday "I don't think there are going to be any games consistently m this senes" Malone said “It’s going to be another tough senes In the playoffs that's how it's supposed to be” By getting pushed to five games by Seattle the Jazz have just one day to get ready for the Blazers who could have an edge because they’ve been off since Tuesday 'They’re rested and waiting for us” Malone said “It’s an early turnaround for us but our attitude is to go up there and play Jazz basbest-of-- 10O-poi- ketball” Once the series starts however the Jazz should enjoy the rhythm of this senes The Seattle series dragged on for nearly two weeks with breaks of four and three days but the first three games of the Portland senes come every other day After a two-da-y break between Games 3 and 4 both at the Delta Center all remaining games will come every other day The Jazz still didn’t know the schedule for the senes until a couple hours after beating Seattle because they had to await the outcome of the senes - something Malone couldn't resist taking a dig at “We have to wait for the big boys to wm their game before they tell us our schedule” Malone said “I don't think Utah and Portland are considered the big boys so we've got to wait” Lakers-Sacramen- to GAME UTAH 5 96 SEATTLE 93 3EST PLAY: While Gary Payton stops to complain about a ndrcall John Stockton races down court to lead a fast break ending m Boon Russell's dunk - KEY STATS: The Jazz commit six turnovers in the fust quarter but just seven more the rest of the Utah outrebounds Seattle game 4K35 including an 1 edge on The Jazz have tlfi offensive end 39 assists in the game to 19 for the Softies Utah's bench contributes just 10 points but all five starters s&re at least 1 3 By unofficial taHy Gary Payton gets booed 89 fifties in the game -S- IDELINE MOMENT: When a m the stands blows a whistle a warning is announced that such behavior is grounds for ejection Hundreds of fans then begin whistling with their kps -- SIDELINE COLLISION: Karl Malone crashed into the sidelines late m the first half chasing a loose ball knocking over several chairs knd fanSfiincluding a woman Waving a Sonics flag and a man wearing a Sonics jersey It took several moments to clear up the Wreckage “He was holding me and didn’t want me to get up” Malone said “He had a Some jersey on and I Wasn’t too fond of it” ’ - INJURY REPORT: Adam Keefe continued to sit out foi Utah with a hamstring injury and remains questionable for the jWtland opener Emanual Davis remained out for Seattle TECHNICAL FOULS: Karl Malone for complaining when a ref phanges his mind and tails a foul against him ’ UP NEXT: The Jazz open their 7 second round senes with ihe Blazers Sunday in Portland - - b£st-of-- feY THE QUARTERS First jumper gives Ihe Sonics a I Payton’s lead Russell's 3 puts Utah up 6-- 4 Malone's post-u- p makes it Baker’s jumper cuts it to RusSfetl's jumper makes it 13:16 23-1-8 at the end of the quarter 1J--8 16-1- Second - Esles drive puts Utah ahead Patterson's dunk off a steal cause by Seattle's trap cuts R to 2 7 Lewis’ 3 cuts to Payton's 3 ties It at Patterson's free throws put the Sonics Malone's post-u- p makes lip 5 Utah Jt Polyrice's layup makes 4344 Payton's shot at the 9 Luzzer cuts I to at halftime C7-1- hero Just barely Person played only 29 seconds in Game 5 of Seattle’s playoff matchup with the Utah Jazz on Friday night but still ended up taking the shot that would either extend or end the Sonics’ season With his team trailing by three points Person spotted up arc at the top of the took a pass from teammate Gary Payton and fired the potential 8 27-2- 29-2- 33-3- 3 38-3- 42-2- 0 M g game-tyin- He missed - but barely - and Utah escapedjustwith a win and a 2 victory in 5 the series The Jazz move on to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference semifinals the Sonics meanwhile begin their summer vacation “I thought it was in” Seattle’s Greg Foster said of Person’s try “It looked good to me e He gave a good got 96-9- 3 3-- best-of-- ball-fak- Homacek hits three straight shots IQ open the quarter including a Oponter that makes Tpster’a 3 cuts R to jumpers by Malone make Patterson's drive cuts R to 4 Lewis' 3 cuts t to 60-4- 9 64-6- jBeck-tobac- k 72-5- 9 79-7- 0 74-6- a fourth 3 cuts to 7 cuts R to 8463 Malone's jumper makes R Vfcynacek's tlp-- n makes R 9 Jyton's layup with 25 seconds left Stockton’s Roe 2its R to 3 throws with rune seconds left makes I Dakar's 80-7- post-u- p Pef la 14-ye- R ar Key-Are- na five-ga- 362-perce- nt it” Even though the Sonics didn’t win Friday they turned in their best showing of their three visits to the Delta Center during the series Seattle survived a slow start (292 percent shooting in the first quarter) and later rallied from a deficit late in the third quarter to cut the Jazz’s lead to one point at with 3 239 seconds to play nt 94-9- 27-poi- nt all-ti- All-St- ar m 5 7 Avalanche eliminate Red Wings 1 -- i— 1 The Associated Press A clever and somewhat risky allowed the game of keep-awa- y Jazz to run 16 seconds off the game clock before the Seattle’s Brent Barry was able to wrap up Utah’s John Stockton for a foul Stockton made both free throw to create the three-poimargin nt and set the stage for Person’s chance to steal the spotlight ”1 went in there and shot it with confidence” Person said ”1 just missed it If I had the chance to take it again I would I’d take it the next 27 times if I had the chance” i RtAYOFE200a - Peter Forsberg 3‘‘1: DENVER Steve Yzennan 0 ' In a series of dueling supfT stars Colorado’s Forsberg forged a clear advantage on Detroit’s Yzerman and the Av- alanche eliminated the Red WingS f from the NHL playoffs with A” ’ 4--2 victory Friday night fifth ttr?"’ of goal Forsberg’s and his fourth game-3'- ” playoffs winner - helped Colorado claim Western Con-- “ the ference semifinal series 4-- 1 The Avalanche advance to the"1 goal-scori- - best-of-sev- conference finals against either Dallas or San Jose Dallas leads! that series 1 It marked the second straight year Colorado ousted its archri-“-“ val in the second round Since1 moving from Quebec in 1995 the-Avalanche are 0 in second-roun- d 3-- -- C 4-- series “Sometimes you score a bunch--o- f goals and never get a Forsberg said “so I’ll take it” Forsberg’s first winner canidTl in the clinching game of the first-- "' round series against Phoenix His other three came in each of Colo- rado’s home games in this series r” ' r Jazz K From IB give Seattle a 36-3- 5 lead It was a recurring theme all game long “I have to work very hard all game long and it doesn’t seem to matter” Stockton said of Payton “He is just a phenomenal player” The Jazz got back on track by relentlessly pounding the ball inside to Karl Malone to V 4 v - also got Mike Ricci’s fifth goal Modano scored 1:08 into the garfiV” stretching his career-hig- h points streak to eight games r get the lead back but the 12BA - thanks to Payton’s twisting turning jumper at the Friday's muffs Today's games ' (Times MOT) Philadelphia at Indiana 1:30 p m Sunday's games New York at Miami 1030 a m lay- one-poi- nt the one who got fouled and Stockton miraculously managed to knock the pass down to save it from sailing out of bounds “That was a little scary” Stockton said “I was basically trying to keep it in play It was a real hummer” Stockton retrieved the ball and was sent to the free throw line but even after making both attempts with onds left for a still wasn’t over 96-9- 3 90 sec- lead game-tyin- the final second When that shot bounced away and Ostertag secured the rebound (he Jazz finally could look to Portland It was a satisfying victory because the Jazz got big contributions from evetyone All five starters scored at least 13 points and they all had at least five rebounds “When your teammates step up I don’t have that burden to say I have to score every time down” said Malone who led the way with 27 points “When guys play like that I think we can beat anybody anywhere” AUGUST TWO WARRIORS: 5 on Friday MILLERStandaid-Examme- r Utah Jazz’s John Stockton and Seattle SuperSonics’ Gary Payton share a moment after Game Hollis of good things down the stretch” Malone said “I think OP the last four or five minutes did a lot of good things for us Stock hit some big shots Jeif had a big tip-i- n It was a nice team effort That’s the most important thing” Stockton another ageless (Po-lynic- e) From IB people expect out of them but you’re looking at a guy 38 36 and 37 years old These guys are no spring chickens “ I’ve got guys I’ve never coached guys that old before” Sloan said referring to his decision to give his team a day off without practice on Thursday “They have carried us and that’s why we have to do that in order to hope that they can have somewhat fresh legs” Indeed those tired old legs on those chickens As if in an eerie premonition which proved prophetic former Jazzman Greg Foster now a member of the Sonics insisted that he would never call the Jazz veterans “old” after Utah’s Game 4 loss at Seattle two nights earlier “They won’t be old on Friday night” Foster cautioned those skeptics who proclaimed the Jazz were a bunch of geezers who couldn’t win any more Well folks much to the dismay of Foster and his teammates he was absolutely right over-the-h- ill Malone who came into Fri- day’s game as the leading scorer in this year’s playoffs at 315 points per game shared game-hig- h honors with Seattle’s Gary Payton with 27 points each and also grabbed a game-hig- h eight rebounds “I think we had a lot of guys step up and a lot of guys did a lot mediocrity the Lakers got a dominant game from Shaquille LOS ANGELES - The real O’Neal and turned it into a Los Angeles Lakers returned for laugher early in the third quarter their biggest game of the season as they steamrolled the Kings d Sacramen6 and the on Friday night in the deto Kings didn’t stand a chance ciding game of the The Associated Press 113-8- two-ga- 9 first-roun- series d With their fans in a and the rest of the contending mini-pan- 4 JAZZ 96 SUPERSONICS wonder who tops the playoffs’ assists list dished out IS more in Friday’s win while going up against Payton the guy they call “The Glove” for his fierce defensive prowess Stockton also scored 17 points and he stuck two critical free throws with nine seconds left 3 that gave the Jazz their lead and forced the Sonics to go g for a attempt that missed its mark at the final buzzer The tough little point guard also had seven re96-9- game-tyin- bounds Russell certainly wasn’t invisible scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds Hornacek who is ready to retire when this year’s postseason play is complete added 13 points five rebounds and five assists And Po-lyni- far his best basketball game With Friday’s win Utah clinches the best-of-- 5 series 2 and earns the right to advance into the Western Conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers 3-- That series starts Sunday at Portland And without the gritty performances by its four aging veterans the Jazz would be headed for their summer vacation instead After Seattle pulled within a point early in the fourth quarter Stockton and Malone each hit jump shots to keep Utah ahead Then Polynice’s conventional three-poiplay gave Utah a lead and Stockton grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a free throw to make it a nt four-poi- nt five-poi- nt game Malone and Polynice scored again as the Jazz extended their 5 lead to seven points and a steal by Stockton and an offensive rebound by Malone helped Utah retain possession and bum another vital minute off the 92-8- tr 3 eft s 0 ic ee P the Lakers quickly brought everybody back to reality O'Neal outrebounded the entire Sacramento team in the first half and finished with 32 points and 18 rebounds while the rest tlst effge-- 40 e Percentages: FG 439 FT 824 t 5 412 (Payton R Lewis 5 Foster I Person 1 B Barry 0-Blocked shots: I (Grants w Turnovers: 10 (R Lewis 3 B Berry 2 Foster lm' Pavton Baker Patterson) Steels: 5 (RLewitX” Grant 2 Patterson) Techncel touts: Illegal Defense 427 second Regal defense: I UTAH FG FT Rah Russell Malone Polynice Stockton Homacek Eisley Ostertag MxiM-41 44 31 M-- O-- T 2 8 5 9 2- - APFPC 1 314 2 27 6 4 -- 13 7 0 5 0 0--3 0 -- 417 3w r" : 3 0 3 0 GiHiam 2 4 0--0 0--1 0 1 0 Padgett 240 4141 Totals 1141 31 22 94 Percentages: FG 506 FT 600 goals: 333 (Russell 2Stockton -1 Eisley Homacek Blocked shots: 8 (Ostertag 2 Russell 2 Stockton Malone Polynice Gilkam) Turnovers: ‘ ’ 12 (Stockton 3 Malone 3 Russell 2 Gilliam 2 ct- ley Polynice) Steals: 5 (Russell Eisley Stock tea Homacek Gilliam) Technical fouls: Malone S50-th- ird Regal defense: None: Seattle II 31 21 23-Utah 23 30 26 A— 19911 (19911) T— 218 Z-X LAKERS 113 KINGS 88 At Las Angelas SACRAMENTO clock 94-9- geles 93 atv which we desperately needed” who had contributed a Hornacek had a textbook meager total of eight points tip-i- n but Polynice committed a through the first four games of goaltending and then bricked a this series chipped in with 13 couple of free throws to help Sepoints and six boards in the attle stay within striking distance clincher Finally with Utah clinging to lead Stockton 3 a precarious “I thought he had a tremendous game for us” Sloan said of stuck his two clutch free throws Polynice playing his first season to help seal the deal in Utah after spending last seaSo call the old folks home and son with the Sonics “We have tell ’em to cancel Utah’s reservanot had a great deal of play out tion because those “old guys” of him in the playoffs at this are on their way to the next point and I thought this was by round of the NBA playoffs teams salivating over the prospect of a road to the finals that wouldn’t go through Los An- I IW At Salt Lake Lakers roar back to clobber the Kings in Game 5 behind O’Neal self-dou-bt - Phoenix at L A Lakers or Sacramento Phoenix TBA l’3A PLAYOFFS pionship material after a and fling with — —a Utah at Portland TBA it looked pretty fresh Friday night Chuck Person one of the best shooters in NBA history had a clean look at a g shot in potential ” (Best-el-- up -- — —— Confenanca Semifinals 60-4- 9 And there they were again at the end of the game nurslead thanks to ing a another Payton layup With time finally running out on the Sonics they were trying desperately to foul Greg Ostertag fired a fastball high and away in a desperate attempt to avoid being 2 Los Angeles Lakers 113 Sacramento (6 Angeles Lakers win senes 2 Jeff Homacek opened the third quarter with three straight baskets including a that made it but by the middle of the fourth quarter Utah’s lead was cut to on Payton’s driving playoffs Utah 96 Seattle 93 Utah wins series buzzer 80-7- 9 defending Stanley Cup champions took a 1 Western lead in their ‘ Conference semifinals ‘“J clinch can The Stars the series with''1 victory against San Jose in Game 5 at- Dallas on Sunday mrct Guy Carbonneau and Sergei Zubov- for Dallas and Owscored short-hande- d en Nolan did the same for San Jose Mike Modano got bis team-hig- h sixth goal for the Stars while Vincent DanfJ” thetr-fi- rst and scored Todd Harvey phousse of the playoffs for San Jose whicjj game was still too close to call at halftime with Utah up just 53-4- 9 Stars S Sharks 4: At San Jo Calif Joe Nteuwendyk had two goalsC Score and Dallas including the d added a pair of goals as the short-hande- Looking every bit like cham- - 94-9- B6-9- 3 Added Person: “It’s my job to be ready to play I don’t have NBA career which likely any problem with going into a came to an end Friday right game like that and taking a shot Person is expected to retire and I’ve done that many times I has hinted at plans of getting inwasn’t stiff and I wasn’t cold I to coaching stayed in the game mentally and Last January at Seattle’s was jumping up and down on the forward the bench all night I was just nicknamed “The Rifleman” beat waiting for my opportunity” the New Jersey Nets with a simPayton who capped an inilar shot at the buzzer And Per- credible performance son is a career with a showing in shooter from beyond the arc and Game 3 was designated as the ranks fourth in first option to take the final shot made with 1120 Payton Unbounded the ball to Still sending a player who Vin Baker who then quickly had logged just one minute of handed it back to the court time in the previous four point guard- games and had yet to attempt a Payton immediately drew a shot in the series seemed like an double-teajust outside the odd move by Seattle coach Paul arc and elected to dish the WestphaL ball off to Person The Sonics disagree "I knew they were going to “He’s our designated shooter double me” Payton said “It in times like that” Westphal was a good shot by Chuck I said of Person ” I’d bet on don’t regret not taking the shot him anytime He’s a money I’d rather us get a good look shooter He’s made 'a lot of than me forcing something oyer made many times during his best-of-fi- ve 94-6- in" Chuck had a good two people look at " upset-minde- 90-8- It was a shot Person has those in his career He gave it a good ride and it just didn’t go game-winne- 53-4- Third wide open and had a great look at it That’s all you can ask for We had a chance” 1T1L PLAYOFFS of the team contributed steady offensive production and superb defense Shortly after halftime it was abundantly clear that the Lakers would pass their first tough test of character with ease So lopsided was it that O’Neal and Kobe Bryant sat out almost the entire fourth quarter FG 433 FT J94 Percentage goats: J89 (J Williams 4 Stolakovle Barry WetXler Anderson Martin Dlvae 1 Detk Blocked shots: 3 (Webber Pollard An- derson) Turnovers: 12 (Stotakovie 3 Delk 3 Dlvae 2 Webber J Williams Pokarg Martin) Steels: 9 (Dlvae 3 Funderburke Stoiakovte Webber Barry Pollard Martin) Technic el touts: Illegal Defense first Coach Adetman 7J1 first IKegal Defense 2:46 first Anderson U4 second Dlvae thirl Flea-on- l louts: Barry Ml third Regd detente L LOS ANGELES LAKERS FG FT Reb M-O-- T Min M-APFPts 0 Rice 32 4 3 14 23 34 Green W 44 54 4 7 O'Neal 35 32 34 2 2 Bryant 17 2 Harper 4 7 0 7 Horry 4 0 0--2 D Fisher I 0--0 Knight 04 Fox 34 2 24 3 Shaw 04 04 2 1 Salley 04 1 George 0 3 240 Totals 0 4 4 II 22 911 Percent egos: FG 522 FT 654 goals: 167 (Fox Bryant Horry 1 0 Fisher 1 Rice 1 George 1 Harper Blacked shots: 12 (O'Neal 3 Bryant J Green 2 DFtsher Rice Salley Harper) Turnovers! ) (O' Neat 3 Horry Brvsnt D Fisher Fox Rice George Green Shaw) Steals: 4 (Green 2 O'Neel D Fisher Fox Hotpot) Technical town: Mood Detente 454 second Fox 154 second Regal ddensc I Sacramento 20 34 10 2- 4- 14 Lea Angdes Lakers 24-- IU- l ’ J i ' J ! a j! 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