Peja scores 28; Divac has triple-double

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Chris Webber was depressed after

hearing about his eight-game suspension. Vlade Divac told him the

Sacramento Kings would be just fine -- and then he racked up a

triple-double to prove it.

Peja Stojakovic scored 28 points and Divac had 14 points, 11

rebounds and 11 assists as the Sacramento Kings kept winning

without their top two big men, beating the Boston Celtics 127-111

Tuesday night.

The Kings had one of the best games in their prolific season

even without center Brad Miller, who sprained his foot in the

All-Star game, and Webber, who began an eight-game suspension for

violating the league's anti-drug policy and lying to a federal

grand jury.

Webber was activated from the injured list Monday, and he's

eager to return. The length of the suspension was surprising to the

Kings -- but Sacramento never seems to miss a beat, no matter the

obstacles or opponents.

"He's definitely down. He feels responsible," Divac said of

Webber. "I told him not to worry, that's what happens. We're going

to get through it. It's not a distraction. We waited 50-something

games. We can wait eight more."

Mike Bibby had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who

matched a franchise record with 16 3-pointers while improving the

NBA's best record to 38-13 with their eighth victory in nine games.

Divac got his eighth career triple-double, and five Kings made

at least three 3-pointers in their second highest-scoring game of

the season. The Celtics helped out by leaving Sacramento's 3-point

shooters alone on the perimeter all night long.

"They way they defend, they rush the paint on penetration,"

Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Every time we ran a play, we would

look to the outside. We got so many wide-open looks because of

that."

The Kings also set a record with their 28th straight home

victory against Eastern Conference teams. No East team has won in

Sacramento since Indiana on March 3, 2002 -- the longest stretch of

home wins over one conference since the NBA formed two conferences

in 1970.

Ricky Davis scored 32 points and Paul Pierce had 27 in the

opener of a four-game road trip for the Celtics, who lost their

third straight because they couldn't keep up with the Kings' sharp

passing. Boston hasn't won in eight games in Sacramento since Feb.

16, 1996.

Walter McCarty added 19 points for Boston, which has lost nine

of 10. While dressing after the game, Pierce took a long look at

the stat sheet before crumpling it into a ball and throwing it with

disgust.

"The thing about that team, they make tough shots," Pierce

said. "That's what makes them an elite team. They make shots no

matter who's on the court with them."

Without Miller and Webber, the Kings simply adjusted their

rotation to create just their third starting lineup of the season.

Rookie Darius Songaila -- traded by the Celtics to Sacramento last

summer -- scored a career-high 17 points in his first NBA start,

while Tony Massenburg and Jabari Smith got more minutes than usual.

Sacramento used just nine players, but eight Kings scored at

least nine points -- and Divac was outstanding, recording his fourth

triple-double with the Kings while running their passing offense to

perfection.

"Normally when a team does that to you, you can blame your

defense," Celtics coach John Carroll said. "But they kept making

shots and making shots and making shots. There's a reason they're

first in the league in 3-pointers. We're not the first team they've

done that to."

Top reserve Bobby Jackson returned to the Kings' lineup after

missing the last three games with an abdominal injury. Jackson made

a 3-pointer the first time he touched the ball -- and then he made

two more, all in the final 1:37 of the first quarter.

The Kings reached the franchise record for 3-pointers on Anthony

Peeler's shot with 3:20 to play.

Game notes
Bibby and Pierce were assessed technical fouls after

getting entangled on the perimeter while Divac made a jumper on the

Kings' opening possession of the second half. Bibby and Pierce

shoved each other, but officials and teammates intervened before a

fight broke out. ... A leak in the roof briefly delayed the game in

the third quarter when water began to collect in a spot near

midcourt. A ball boy sat near the spot with a towel for the rest of

the game.