Stojakovic sinks career-best seven 3s

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby put on

a long-range shooting clinic at the Denver Nuggets' expense.

Stojakovic made a career-high seven 3-pointers and scored 35

points, and Bibby added a career-best six 3s and 30 points, helping

the Sacramento Kings beat Denver 115-92 on Sunday.

Stojakovic finished 7-of-11 from 3-point range, and was 11-of-21

overall from the field for the Kings, an NBA-best 23-4 at home.

Stojakovic made consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter,

then hit a third and was knocked to the floor. He made the free

throw for a four-point play, giving the Kings a 97-84 lead.

"They hit every open 3 we gave them in the second half,"

Denver guard Earl Boykins said. "They came down and we weren't

good at transition defense. We weren't getting to the 3-point line.

And when we didn't, they made us pay."

It was another frustrating day at Arco Arena for the Nuggets,

who have lost 15 straight games in Sacramento, dating to Jan. 7,

1997. They were outscored 34-18 in the fourth quarter.

The Kings had lost two of three at home and looked prime for

another loss when Denver opened the third quarter with 11 straight

points to take a 62-54 lead.

Kings coach Rick Adelman called a timeout at that point and

displayed his unhappiness with the defensive effort.

"He was mad. We were made, too," Stojakovic said. "There was

no energy at all. We were letting them do what they wanted."

Later in the quarter, Bibby scored 10 points in a 16-4 run and

the Kings never trailed again. They took an 81-74 lead into the

fourth period.

Brad Miller added 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for

the Kings, who made a season-best 14 3-pointers in 24 attempts.

Doug Christie added 13 points and eight assists.

Rookie Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and eight rebounds for the

Nuggets, who have lost two straight. Voshon Lenard added 22 points,

Earl Boykins 13, and Marcus Camby had 10 points 16 rebounds.

"This is real frustrating, we had it in our hands down to the

last eight minutes," Anthony said. "And they wind up winning by

20 or something."

Andre Miller, who scored a season high 30 points in the previous

game against the Kings, was bothered by the defense of Christie and

went scoreless and had eight assists.

"We didn't let Andre Miller get going," Adelman said. "Doug

did a good job of containing him."

Bibby scored 10 points in a 16-4 run for the Kings, who trailed

by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but took an 81-74

lead into the fourth.<

^Notes: Kings sixth man Bobby Jackson missed the game because of an

abdominal injury. ... Camby and Vlade Divac were a combined 5-of-20

shooting. ... The Kings made 19 of 22 free throws.