Show TV ' W 'I o TV ' -- rwri The Herald Journal Logan Utah Monday April 2 2001 — Page 7 wm Malone scores 31 against Vancouver VANCOUVER British Columbia ( AP) — of the toughest stretches of the season now behind his team Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is prepared to cut his team a little slack But just a little In securing a postseason berth for the 8th straight season with a 3 victory over Vancouver on Sunday the Jazz completed a stretch of five games in less than seven days “It probably wears on you a little" said Sloan the former Chicago Bulls standout “But you shouldn’t need two weeks off My daughter gave me a program the other day with a schedule where we played five games in as many day all in different cities “If you like to play basketball what else are you going to do? We’re flying in the best planes eating the best food It’s still a little too AP photo much to understand fatigue” At 38 Karl Malone doesn't understand fatigue Karl Malone (32) of the Utah Jazz goes over the either Malone keyed the win for the Jazz when of Vancouver Austin Grizzlies' Ike first top during he scored 16 of his 31 points in the third quarter half action in Vancouver ltah won 3 “If you start looking at the schedule you start messing yourself up” Malone said when asked if his team was starting to show the effects Of travel ' It’s partly’ for that reason that both Sloan and Malone believe their team is not ready for postseason play “We’re not playing as well as we’d like but we’re not as young as some of these others”-Sloa- With one 1 92-7- said Malone triggered the win for Utah when he hit five of eight shots in the third quarter “That's why I get the littl bucks” Malone said sarcastically “It’ll be my job until I’m team We’re a done We’re not an outside-insid- e team that goes inside first and we made them pay for that down the stretch” The Grizzlies led by 20 points and 12 rebounds from Shareef Abdur-Rahiwere playing only their third game in eight days But it was m Vancouver that looked tired down the stretch when the Grizzlies went 5:23 without a point 92-7- leads Grizzlies Abdur-Rahi-m Despite the drought Vancouver coach Sidney Lowe insists his team has not quit pointing to a win Thursday’ night over New York that e snapped a losing streak “I think the reality for a lot of people is hard to see that this team is still learning how to win games It’s hard to win It's easy to lose" Lowe nine-gam- said ' The win left the Jazz with all-- 0 record in Vancouver in possibly their last road contest against the Grizzlies who are expected to move following the season Sloan suggested part of the reason for the Grizzlies’ lack of success during ’ their run in Vancouver rests in instability “You’ve got to give a coach a chance” said Sloan in his 13th season with Utah “You can’t do it in one year or in one month It’s mind-boggliwhat happens when guys with no basketball experience am making decisions Utah coach in the league may have the 29th-wor- st but the owner kept the players together” six-ye- ar ng Knicks take away Shaq in 79-7- 8 victory over Lakers Suns get their seventh win in a row Nets get a boost from Van Horn By The Associated Press O’Neal’s game away from the Los Angeles Lakers “We’ve got to make them beat us from the outside’ New York’s Allan Houston said “We can’t let Shaq beat us from the inside even if we pack five people around him’’ With New York leading by one point the Lakers had a chance to win when O'Neal grabbed Glen Rice’s missed shot with seconds remainBut the Knicks ing collapsed around O'Neal forcing Derek Fisher to take a jumper just before time expired 6 1 Vonteego Cummings had 18 each Detroit led by as many as 29 before a fourth-quart- 5-f- won’t” O’Neal led the Lakers with 31 points-an11 rebounds Rick Fox added 11 points and Horace Grant had 10 points and 12 rebounds scorer Bryant the NBA’s started and with a 292-poiaverage played nearly 11 12 minutes before 4 leaving with the Lakers leading He was scoreless when he went to the locker room for treatment “I knew I wouldn’t come back” : Bryant said Nets 101 Rockets 98 Lucious Harris gave host New Jersey with tip-i- n the lead with an third-leadi- nt 21-1- four years Michael Finley had 23 points as Dallas won at Arco Arena for the first time since March l61997 a span of seven' ’ games Chris Webber scored 27 points and Peja Stojakovic had 24 for the Kings Suns 106 Bucks 99 Jason Kidd had 30 points and 12 Phoenix won to maintain assists its 2 1 edge on Minnesota for ' playoff seed in the Western' Conference The Suns’ victory over Milwaukee was their seventh straight the longest current streak in the NBA and matching their season-beRay Allen had 31 points for Milwau- t st kee 1 off-balan-ce rally by the Warriors er made it 102-8- 5 and forced Pistons coach George Irvine to put his starters back in the game Mavericks 119 Kings 107 Juwan Howard had 32 points and 12 rebounds and Dirk Nowitzki added 25 points and 1 1 rebounds as Dallas got its first victory in Sacramento in more than three-gam- ’ With Kobe Bryant in the locker room the New York Knicks took Shaquille 5-- tough shot” New York's Marcus Camby scored seven of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and also had 15 rebounds He also was a key to defending O’Neal at the end “We just packed it in and tried to make somebody else make a play” Camby said Latrell Sprewell had 19 points for New York as the Knicks snapped a e losing streak They lost their previous two games at Vancouver and Portland by a total of 38 points “The difference is when we defend and rebound we're-gointo have a chance to win” Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said ‘‘When we don't we ’ - ' since being traded Tracy McGrady scored 24 points'to lead Orlando McGrady who left the Raptors as a free agent was loudly booed throughout the game-- Fans brought derogatory signs and chanted even when he didn’t- have 1:11 left hurting Houston’s playoff and' the chances 8 Knicks had a victory Steve Francis who scored 28 points Sunday giving New York its had a chance to force an overtime but e first sweep of the his attempt hit off the back of the ball Fisher missed 79-7- ’ two-gam- defending NBA champions iii ' six years “I told Phil during a timeout ‘Make sure I get it’ v O'Neal said referring to Lakers coach Phil Jackson “But they weren't going to let me get it Coach Jackson drew up a pretty nice play but they put their defense one guy behind me one guy in front of me which forced Fish to shoot a the rim' at the buzzer Keith Van Hom had 19 points to lead the Nets The Rockets are 3 12 games behind Minnesota in the race for the final playoff berth in (he Western Conference Pistons 104 Warriors87 Jerry Stackhouse scored 32 points and Ben Wallace added 16 rebounds as Detroit beat visiting Golden State Adonal Foyle had 20 points for Gold- en State while Antwan Jamison and AP photo The New York Knicks' Larry Johnson right goes up for a layup against Los Angeles Lakers Mntef Shaquille O'Neal during the first quarter in Los Angeles Magic 104 Raptors 101 ’Returning to Toronto for the first time playoff spot in the Eastern Confer- - David Wesley led Charlotte with 21 ’ ence' Tyrone Hill had 15 points and 13 rebounds his 16th double-doubof the season for Philadelphia Jalen Rose playing with five fouls for much of the fourth quarter' finished with 26 points — 14 in the final period while reserve Austin Croshere had 21 points forIndiana Hornets 80 Celtics 79 Elden Campbell hit a hook shot ' with nine seconds left and Baron Davis blocked Boston’s final shot to preserve host Charlotte’s victory The e Hornets snapped a losing streak and beat Boston forlhe sixth points Antoine Walker scored 25 for the Celtics but missed a critical free throw with 19 seconds to play Timberwolves 99 Trail Blazers 95 le Darrell Armstrong added 22 points and Pat Garrity 20 for’ the Magic who tied Toronto for sixth place in the East- -' ern Conference Vince Carter had 28 points and assists for the Raptors whose four-gawinning streak ended 76ers 104 Pacers 93 Allen Iverson scored 37 points as host Philadelphia won for only the third time in nine games The loss kept Indiana’ tied with Boston in the race for the final consecutive time Terrell Brandon " 1 1 - - four-gam- ' Rose Garden ' gets first hit of 0 1 ? A-R- od But his fielding game hurts Texas in 8-- 1 IS loss tle bit of everything: an error Billy Koch presented Martinez ' a slip hits But it’s only one with the game ball ' which he in game There’s '161 more You turn gave to his wife along ' with the lineup card Texas Rangers just move on” “We have to write this one The $252 million man had “I feel like I’m back where 1 the first major league hit of off” Rangers manager Johnny belong' on a baseball field” said Martinez a broadcaster 2001 Moments later he: Oates said Torbnto meanwhile will since retiring from the Blue scored the fust nuL 7 ' Then came trouble surely savor the first game Jays in 1986 Shannon Stewart went He made a throwing error marking the 100th anniversary 5 with’ a solo homer and an He fell while turning a double of the American League RBI double and scored twice Estebari Loaiza (l-play which prompted him to change from plastic spikes to ' rewarded rookie manager Buck and Tony Batista hit a two-ru-n metaT ones That didn’t help Martinez for making him the homer on a fly that took starter by throw- - advantage of the short dimenany when he stepped oil his opening-da- y loose left shoelace and went ring six shutout innings- after sions at Hiram Bithorn Stadidown on the turf again giving up Rafael Palmeiro’s um- It’s 313 down the line and 315 in left where “I’ve never had that happen RBI double in the first Batista’s ball went Loaiza- who has ai 49-5- 2 once” Rodriguez said “and it Other than ened twice in a matter of career record and lost rotation odyssey the gamelackedthe salsa a few innings spots in Pittsburgh and Texas Rodriguez wasn’t the only ' allowed eight hits ip seven many of the local fans hoped for especially those who began Rangers player who struggled innings He struck out nine 8- -l Blue ever the loss in the an a to most by Jays' waiting in line at 5 am' — 1 1 Sunday Toronto Blue Jays But he is the pitcher on opening day hours before the first pitch The crowd of 19891 was “I was throwing all my highest paid and that makes him the most scrutinized pitches for strikes’’ his said “I treated to Pearly an tiourlong “You have to start some- - had a couple Qf strikeouts in' pregame show that included music dancing costumed figwhere”- - said Rodriguez who big situations” ' After the last out Loaiza and ures three national anthems “There was a lit went SAN JUAN Puerto Rico Alex Rodriguez's got (AP) off to a perfect start for the - : who finished with 30 points and 11 assists hit two1 free throws with 59 seconds left to seal Minnesota's victory at Portland Kevin Garnett added 16 points and-1rebounds for the Timber- wolves Who had lost six straight road games Steve Smith scored 25 to lead the Blazers who have lost eight of their' last 13 overall and five of eight atlhe 3-f- : ’ ’ ’ to play W ft By The joe Torre hears all’ the APphoto Texas Rangers second baseman Randy Velarde left tags out Alex Gonzalez of the Toronto Blue Jays at second baseduring the first baseball game of the 2001 season between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays at Hiram Bithom Stadium in San Juan Puerto Rico Sunday- and the unveiling of signs Roberio Clemente and hoc-ori- ng Orlando Cepeda the only Puer- to Ricansln the Hall of Fame Yet the lack of early scoring doubters the ones who keep insisting the New York Yankees’ run is cpmihgto an end to be correct this Continued from Page 6 ' on the throwing error Tire next batter Nicole Spencer hit a single to left which scored two more runs quickly turning the momentum of the game around as USU found themselves down 1 "They got hits when they needed to get hits1 USU second baseman Danielle Rodriguez kaid 4-- : i I- -' - i : : V' it : "Everyone’s picking' the but I don't think they’re going to do it this' year” he said “If they win their division someone to bump them off” Wells now pitching for the AL Central-champio- n Chicago ' - October' Yankees t ' t thbujgh But David Wells' believes it’s time his old team ' took a fall 'seemed ta lull them to sleep player introductions but They might’ve been expecting weren’t heard from much dur- more Action after seeing eighty After combining-fohomers in the first four innings ing'the game in the exhibithree homers of a 14-- 8 exhibition game Sattion Rodriguez-wenurday night with an Drum beats and the chant and Delgado “Ole! Ole ole ole! tJlelV RBI The pair shared a hug iat finally erupted in the bottom home plate a few minutes after of the sixth Flashbulbs the game ended drawing the popppd when Puerto Rico last big cheer of the night ck be!-righ- the manager said Torre does npt plan for them - back-to-ba- they'd ‘‘Eventually natives Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Delgado batted in the late innings after night fell Rodriguez and Delgado were the stars of the pregame USU had its chances to get back into' spot in the Aggies' lineup going a not putting them' together at the right combined the game in the fifth when time" Smith said The lack of timely hitting changed singles with no outs gave the fans "Moving the runners is just as imporhope However USU failed to move tant as getting the hits" Rodriguez the momentum of the game according to McCreesh much afterwards as a sacrifice bunt said strikeout and a groundout quickly put The Aggies hitting was bioth a bless- "People play differently when the kibosh on a rally ing and a curse on Sunday Though they're head than when they're ' In the seventh inning a single by the Aggies managed to amass eight behind McCreesh said "We just Rodriguez and a single by Casey Smith hits in the game they were only able don’t know what it's like to play ahead to score a single run They woe just right now" was not enough to ignite s rally "We're just npt capitalizing" USU one hit behind the 49ers total on SunThe Aggies will travel to Salt Lake ' head coach Pam McCreesh said ' to face the Utes on Wednesday at dayCity v "We're getting a lot of hits we're just 3pm Smith and Acevedo were a bright Associated Press White Sox' might’ get his' chance later this year In the meantime there’s a lot of baseball to be played A day' after Toronto started the major league season by beating Texas 1 in Puerto Rico most everyone else on the mainland was set for opening day Monday Well most everyone Derek 8-- - Jeter Nomar Garciaparra Kevin Brown and John Smoltz were some of the stars already on the disabled list with Ken Griffey Jr and Greg Maddux among those ailing i : ‘ |