SACRAMENTO, May 1 (UPI) -- The Sacramento Kings became the first team to advance to the NBA conference semifinal round of the playoffs Wednesday night with a 111-91 rout of Utah.
In what may have been the last game with Utah for Karl Malone and John Stockton, the pair and the rest of the Jazz made a quiet exit. The Kings wrapped up the Western Conference first-round series in five games.
For the first time in franchise history, Utah has been bounced in the first round three straight years. It marked the second straight season it was eliminated by Sacramento, but this one may hold more meaning.
Malone, 39, a member of the Jazz since 1985, and the NBA's second all-time leading scorer, becomes a free agent July 1 and may go elsewhere in pursuit of an elusive championship.
The 41-year-old Stockton, the runaway all-time leader in assists and steals, has been contemplating retirement for the last couple of seasons. It is highly possible this was his last NBA game.
"I haven't stopped to think about that yet," Stockton said. "Obviously, I have some time now, and I'm going to get back home. I'll talk to the powers that be, including Coach (Jerry Sloan) and (owner) Larry Miller, and see what my future is."
Malone had early foul trouble, and scored 14 points on just 5-of-17 shooting, while Stockton managed eight points and seven assists. They both exited to a standing ovation from the Arco Arena crowd with 5:01 remaining and the game totally out of hand.
"It was very nice," Stockton said. "It's kind of tough to sit there and enjoy it when you know what the score is. There is a lot of things that go through your mind about that time, but it was very nice."
Chris Webber had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points for the second-seeded Kings, who advanced to the conference semifinals for the fourth straight year. They await the winner of the Dallas-Portland series.
Guard Bobby Jackson, who this week was named winner of the Sixth Man Award, scored 18 points, and Vlade Divac added 16 for the Kings, who never trailed, shot 53 percent (38-of-72) from the field, and beat the Jazz for the seventh time in nine meetings this season.
