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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Coach Jerry Sloan and perennial All-Star
forward Karl Malone put their dirty laundry on public display, showing the Utah Jazz are no different from many other NBA teams.
|  | | John Stockton was typically unspectacular but devastatingly efficient, finishing with 20 points and eight assists. |
The difference in Salt Lake is that nobody talks about it afterward.
Malone scored 30 points, including 12 in the third quarter,
after Sloan shouted at him late in the first half of Utah's 98-84
victory Wednesday night over the Philadelphia 76ers.
John Stockton had 20 points and eight assists as the Jazz ended the 76ers' seven-game winning streak.
Sloan sent assistant coach Phil Johnson to speak with reporters,
and Johnson reported Sloan was ill. Asked about Sloan's exchange
with Malone, he said: "You'll have to speak to the people
involved."
Malone spent 45 minutes in the training room, then refused to
discuss it.
"I don't have nothing to say about it," Malone said somberly.
Asked later whether his relationship with Sloan would recover,
Malone said: "I don't know. You'll have to talk to everybody
involved. I'm just going to play basketball."
Malone was untouched on a layup with 1:09 before halftime but
appeared to twist his right ankle. He fell and got up limping, then
came off the court when a foul on Allen Iverson stopped the clock seven seconds later.
After Malone walked past Sloan on the Utah bench, Sloan followed
him to an empty chair. The two had a heated exchange, raising their
voices and wagging fingers.
Malone came out of the dressing room inspired in the second
half, scoring eight of Utah's first 10 as the Jazz stretched a
45-41 halftime lead to 55-45 just over three minutes into the third
quarter.
"Karl geared it up a bit in the second half and was very tough," Stockton said. "He made some tough shots and great passes and was active defensively. So, another great game."
Iverson scored 18 points one night after he had 43 in a victory
at Minnesota. He denied feeling tired, despite shooting 7-of-21
against the defense of Stockton and Howard Eisley.
"I always get asked that question when I don't score 30 points," Iverson said. "Did this guy play you different? Well, some nights those shots I put up don't go down. It's as simple as that."
The Sixers never led, but they never gave up either. Twice in
the fourth quarter Philadelphia came within three points. The Jazz
found an answer each time, and Stockton sealed it with a six-point
spurt.
A basket by Tyrone Hill trimmed the deficit to 79-76 with 5:33
to play, but Stockton hit 18-foot jumper, then came off a screen by
Malone to make an 8-footer on the baseline with 4:28 remaining.
With 4:01 on the clock, Stockton hit a runner in the lane for an
85-76 lead.
"He was sensational in that stretch," Johnson said. "He hit
some huge shots. He penetrated and made some shots over the
defense. He just had a tremendous game down the stretch."
Jeff Hornacek scored 13 points, Bryon Russell had 12 and Greg
Ostertag collected 13 rebounds for Utah. The Jazz also shot
17-of-17 from the foul line, led by Stockton's 6-of-6.
Toni Kukoc scored 18 points, Matt Geiger 15 and Theo Ratliff 12
for the Sixers, who had scored at least 100 points in five
straight. But Philadelphia never found a steady rhythm, shooting
41.6 percent.
Game notes
Malone needs 185 points to become the first player in NBA
history to score 2,000 points in 12 consecutive seasons. ... Hill
drew a first-quarter technical while he sat on the bench. Referee
Derrick Stafford blew the whistle when Hill mouthed off as the
Sixers set up their offense. ... Ratliff, the NBA's No. 4
shot-blocker at 2.98 a game, had four in the first quarter and
finished with five. ... The Jazz have beaten the 76ers eight
straight at home. Philadelphia is one of four teams that has never
won at the Delta Center.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Philadelphia Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
RECAPS
Denver 101
Washington 93
Charlotte 98
Detroit 91
Cleveland 86
Chicago 81
Utah 98
Philadelphia 84
New York 110
Seattle 95
LA Lakers 108
Vancouver 99
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Larry Brown's respect for the Jazz continues to grow.
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