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The Sacramento Kings didn't look much better than the lowly Washington Wizards through three quarters.
The Kings then showed why they are the best team in the Western Conference, breaking open a one-point game with an 11-2 run to start the fourth and coasting for a 100-92 win Sunday night to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.
``Just like any good playoff team, they know how to step it up a little bit,'' Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. ``They know how to put the intensity on and deny the wings and really get into it.''
Peja Stojakovic had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who are just 9-6 since All-Star Chris Webber returned after missing the first 58 games of the season.
Webber, who has been annoyed by the occasional booing by Sacramento's fans since his return, heard nothing but cheers against his former team. He made four straight free throws in the final 41 seconds and finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
``I'm fine, I'm cool, I've been through tough times before,'' Webber said. ``I'll just keep rolling with the punches.''
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Mike Bibby scored 21 points and had seven assists, while Doug Christie added
14 points for Sacramento, which avenged a 114-108 loss to Washington earlier
this month.
On March 17, Kwame Brown had career highs of 30 points and 19 rebounds in the Wizards' surprising victory. Brown had 18 points and 15 rebounds Sunday.
Gilbert Arenas scored 27 points, on 7-of-22 shooting for Washington, which has lost nine of 11. Arenas made 12 of 14 free throws. Larry Hughes added 18 points.
``We went inside a couple of times, but we just didn't get anything,'' Arenas said. ``That was it. The inside wasn't going, the outside wasn't going, so I just tried to get to the free throw line.''
After an 18-1 run in the third quarter, the Kings squandered a 13-point lead, letting Washington back in the game.
The Wizards outrebounded the Kings 57-43, but shot only 37 percent and missed 13 of 15 3-point attempts.
``They hurt us again on the boards, they hurt us in a lot of areas,'' Kings coach Rick Adelman said. ``But we made some big plays in the fourth quarter to open it up and get the win.
Webber, Stojakovic and Bibby all scored 13 points, helping the Kings take a48-46 lead into halftime.
Notes
Kings center Vlade Divac missed the game with a stomach virus. ... Expected back after missing 19 straight games, Kings guard Bobby Jackson sat out again with an abdominal strain. ... The Wizards made just six of 24 shots in the opening quarter and trailed 26-18. ... Washington has lost seven straight games at Arco Arena, where they haven't won since Jan. 16, 1996, whenWebber was with the Wizards.