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Posted: Saturday December 11, 1999 02:58 AM
SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- The Sacramento Kings had no answer for Alonzo Mourning.
In one of the best performances this season, Mourning scored 37 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked eight shots as the Miami Heat defeated the Kings, 107-97, and ended their 15-game home winning streak.
"It happens. You're out there playing, you get the ball and you're working it," said Mourning, who downplayed his performance. "The way our offense is set up, anyone is capable of going off on any given night."
The Heat used suffocating defense down the stretch to hand the Kings their only home defeat of the season and first at Arco Arena since a 99-98 overtime loss to Seattle on April 15 of last season.
"We've been in a lot of tough places to play and I thought that we played real poised down the stretch, getting good shots and making stops," Heat coach Pat Riley said.
The Heat, who have the best record in the NBA, held high-scoring Sacramento under 100 points for only the fourth time in 17 games this season.
Kings guard Jason Williams had a miserable game, hitting only 1-of-11 shots before being ejected for arguing late in the game.
"We knew they were gonna let it fly," Riley added. "We did a good job on (Chris) Webber. We didn't let him post up and we didn't let Jason run pick-and-rolls."
Sacramento opened an 88-84 lead on Lawrence Funderburke's basket with 6:31 remaining but did not score again from the field until the 1:15 mark.
"They played pretty good, especially in the last five minutes when they took over the game," Kings center Vlade Divac said.
"It's hard to say what was wrong. My defense was terrible and that was a big reason we lost the game. The last five minutes we just couldn't make shots."
While the Kings could not buy a basket, the Heat caught fire, using a 15-0 run to take a 99-88 lead with 1:53 remaining. Jamal Mashburn scored six of his 18 points and Voshon Lenard hit two key baskets during the stretch.
Mourning scored 26 points in the first half, including 20 in the first quarter to keep the Heat close as the Kings opened a 36-32 lead.
Rookie Anthony Carter had another solid game in the absence of star Tim Hardaway with seven points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The Heat have won seven of eight games without their injured starting point guard.
"I never felt I needed to come in and learn the system. I always come in ready to play," Carter said. "I'm feeling real comfortable right now, and I'm starting. We just have to go out and play like this every night."
Sacramento came out hot, shooting 54 percent in the opening period. Webber scored 14 of his 26 points to offset Mourning's offensive assault.
The Kings could not find the basket in the second quarter, making only 21 percent (6-of-28). The Heat took advantage of Sacramento's futility and forged a 54-51 halftime lead.
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