Sunday, March 03, 2002
Cavaliers can't contain Kukoc
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — Shareef Abdur-Rahim had a subpar game. Jason Terry was shooting bricks. Still, the Atlanta Hawks won.
They can thank Toni Kukoc.
Scoring 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, Kukoc led the Hawks back from a dismal start for an 84-81 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.
Kukoc, who has missed 23 games this season because of injuries, seemed as surprised as anyone to finish just one point below his season high.
“I got in a rhythm, which is the most important thing for me,” he said. “I had plenty of energy. I don't know where that came from, but I actually did.”
The Hawks, who trailed by 15 after the first quarter, came back despite getting just 17 points from their top two scorers.
Abdur-Rahim was held to 14, and Terry managed only three on 1-of-14 shooting.
Kukoc hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:22 remaining to put the Hawks ahead to stay, 79-77. He made another key basket with 1:08 to go, working in the lane to drop in a shot and give Atlanta an 83-79 lead.
BRYANT-MILLER FIGHT:
There's rarely a dull moment with Shaq, Kobe & Crew, who have a knack for creating excitement when the regular-season grind grows tedious.
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, now best buddies, feuded last season. Then there was Shaq miffed at coach Phil Jackson for a time, Jackson taking some subtle potshots at O'Neal, then O'Neal taking a roundhouse shot at then-Chicago Bulls center Brad Miller about 1 1/2 months ago.
Just when O'Neal returned from his suspension for fighting and the two-time NBA champions were looking serene and formidable again, Bryant stirred things up by throwing a punch at Indiana's Reggie Miller.
It was a weird confrontation — near center court, after the final buzzer, after the two hadn't even guarded each other or had much contact during Friday night's game.
Their brief bout — which possibly will result in a suspension and fine for Bryant — ended with a scrum on the scorers' table near the Pacers' bench, apparently with no serious injuries.
The only two guys who knew what really happened — Bryant and Reggie Miller — weren't talking after the Lakers' 96-84 win. Bryant did issue a statement through team spokesman John Black, saying, “If somebody comes at me, I'm going to defend myself.”
By midday Saturday, there was no word on any action from the NBA.
Bryant, who scored 25 points, and Miller, who had just five on 2-of-10 shooting, were walking toward each other, apparently trash-talking, when Bryant suddenly threw a punch.
It happened so quickly, even the other players and the coaches weren't quite sure what led up to the scuffle.
Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said words apparently were exchanged, and “I saw Kobe take a swing.”
“Before I knew it, everyone was trying to grab each other and hold each other and make peace. I don't know what they were saying or what it was about,” Thomas said.
Said Jackson: “It was a hotly contested game and a very physical game. I imagine there was a lot of talking going on. After the game, it looked like Kobe and Miller lined up and went after each other.”
Jackson expects Bryant to be disciplined by the NBA, saying it was “more than likely.”
Thomas believes Miller might not be punished.
“I don't know if Reggie should be suspended. I didn't really see him throw a punch, and if he didn't swing, then you're allowed to grab the guy that's swinging at you,” Thomas said.
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Cavaliers can't contain Kukoc