Kings claim 9th straight victory

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- It's fitting that the ever-smiling Peja Stojakovic is pleased with the Sacramento Kings' impressive play -- and that the glowering Chris Webber is not.

Webber scored 30 points and Stojakovic added 23 Tuesday night as the Kings kept picking up speed for the postseason, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 122-103 for their ninth straight win.

Sacramento's All-Star duo went a combined 23-for-34 from the field, providing the biggest offensive punches in another fairly easy night at Arco Arena for the NBA-leading Kings, who are 35-4 at home.

MINNESOTA (103)

Garnett 5-9 5-7 15, Jo.Smith 2-7 2-2 6, Nesterovic 7-17 1-2 15, Szczerbiak 8-13 0-0 16, Billups 4-11 4-4 12, Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0, Peeler 3-7 0-0 7, Pack 6-8 0-1 12, Woods 1-1 4-4 6, Trent 3-5 0-0 6, Lopez 3-9 1-1 8. Totals 42-87 17-21 103.

SACRAMENTO (122)

Stojakovic 9-15 2-4 23, Webber 14-19 2-2 30, Divac 6-9 2-2 14, Christie 3-5 3-3 10, Bibby 6-10 2-4 15, Pollard 3-8 5-6 11, Turkoglu 1-6 1-4 3, B.Jackson 4-8 0-0 8, Funderburke 1-2 0-0 2, Wallace 2-3 0-0 4, Cleaves 1-3 0-0 2, Brown 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 50-89 17-25 122.

Minnesota 21 21 31 30 -- 103

Sacramento 27 32 32 31 -- 122

3-Point Goals--Minnesota 2-10 (Peeler 1-1, Lopez 1-2, Pack 0-1, Szczerbiak 0-2, Billups 0-4), Sacramento 5-10 (Stojakovic 3-4, Bibby 1-1, Christie 1-2, Cleaves 0-1, B.Jackson 0-2). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--Minnesota 45 (Garnett 12), Sacramento 51 (Pollard 8). Assists--Minnesota 16 (Billups 6), Sacramento 29 (Christie 8). Total fouls--Minnesota 19, Sacramento 18. A--17,317 (17,317).

Sacramento has won its last nine games by an average of more than 17 points.

"We're playing really well right now at both ends of the floor," Stojakovic said. "We're really getting into the flow of the game. I think we've reached the level of play we want. Now, we have to maintain it."

Mike Bibby had 15 points as NBA-leading Sacramento's magic number for clinching home-court advantage throughout the playoffs was reduced to two. With two victories in their final five games, the Kings (58-19) also will earn their first division title since moving to Northern California in 1985.

Doug Christie had 10 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Kings made an overwhelming run in the second quarter and a steady second half, shooting 56 percent. In fact, about the only person in the building not sold on the performance was Webber.

"I think we can play better," he said. "We'll need to in the playoffs."

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota, which lost for just the second time in eight games. As the Timberwolves fell irretrievably behind in the second quarter, Garnett wore the same look of frustration and appreciation that's been on nearly every Sacramento opponent's face in recent weeks.