| | SALT LAKE CITY -- Karl Malone wasted little time before
passing Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA career scoring
list Monday night.
Malone made an 18-foot jumper from the right side with 9:24
remaining in the first quarter. It was his sixth point of the game
and carried him past Jordan on the NBA's career scoring list.
|  | | Karl Malone watches his shot go in to score his 29,278th career point. |
Many in the capacity crowd at the Delta Center rose to their
feet to cheer and applaud when Malone's shot swished through.
Malone drew more cheers seconds later with a layup that gave the
Jazz a 12-6 lead.
When the Warriors took a timeout with 8:51 on the clock,
Malone's feat was announced over the public address system,
prompting a deafening roar. He was cheered again when the Jazz came
out of their huddle.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ranks first with 38,387 points and Wilt
Chamberlain is second at 31,419. Jordan scored 29,277.
Malone, a perennial All-Star and two-time NBA MVP, seemed at
ease on the court. He hit his first basket on a turnaround jumper
with 10:51 left in the first, then took a feed from John Stockton
for another basket with 9:42 showing.
Yet before tip-off, Malone was edgy and declined an interview
request.
"He's a little superstitious about it," Jazz assistant Mark
McKown said.
The 36-year-old Malone had an off night in his last game,
scoring 24 points on 8-of-23 shooting as the Jazz lost 100-87 on
Friday to visiting Toronto.
Although Malone and the Jazz couldn't beat Jordan and the
Chicago Bulls in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals, Malone surpassed him
on the scoring ladder. Malone has spent several days answering
questions about it.
"It's one of those things you try hard not to think too much
about because without a doubt it's a personal thing," Malone said
last weekend. "It's not a team-oriented accomplishment."
At his current scoring pace, Malone would pass Chamberlain
sometime early next season. To pass Abdul-Jabbar, Malone needs to
average almost 29 points a game through the rest of his current
four-year contract.
Utah coach Jerry Sloan attributes Malone's scoring to his
durability. Now in his 15th NBA season, Malone has missed six games
-- three to injuries and three to league suspensions.
"It's something he has worked very hard for," Sloan said.
"He's been there every day and he has always come prepared to
play. When you take that kind of an approach, those scoring things
take care of themselves." | |
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Malone passes Jordan for third place on career scoring list as Jazz pass Warriors
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