Jazz guard John Stockton said Saturday he wasn't certain what happened when he was kneed by Dennis Rodman in the fourth quarter of their playoff game. But Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was.
"I think Rodman wanted intentionally to take John (Stockton) out. He just as much as said so when he came off the floor. That's part of the game . . . I guess that's what works. I can't quote him verbatim, but I think that's pretty much what he had in mind. That was the gist of what he said," said Sloan.The incident occurred with 3:23 left in the game and the Jazz leading by 18. Stockton went down the lane and was kneed in the thigh by Rodman. Stockton limped to the sidelines, where ice was strapped to his leg. After Stockton sat down, Rodman continued, calling, "You and me, Stockton, you and me!" and "Come on back to the game!" He was hit with a technical - his second of the game - and given the automatic ejection.
Continued Sloan, "If you're going to let the sideshows interfere with the game of basketball, then I'm in the wrong business."
Asked what happened on the play, Stockton replied, "How can you tell? I ran in there and hit his knee and went down."
Spurs' coach John Lucas said it was a no-fault situation. There was the injury, then the talking, then the technical. "Whatever happens to Dennis, he is immediately blamed for it. The taunting on the bench when Stockton said some things to him and he says something back, he gets the technical and he gets thrown out. And their bench didn't get anything," said Lucas. "Regardless of that, let's give them credit, they just beat us today."
Added the Jazz's Karl Malone, "He's (Rodman) gotta hit me harder than that. My daughter hits harder than that. We expect him to do anything to help them win the game on Tuesday night."
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Stockton wasn't the only star to go out early. San Antonio's David Robinson left in the third period after twisting his right knee while driving to the basket.
Robinson isn't expected to miss Tuesday's game, but will be examined Sunday by Spurs' physicians.
Stockton, who has a thigh bruise, is also expected to be ready by Tuesday.
"That's the second thigh bruise he's had this year," said team physician Dr. Lyle Mason. "It's not a bad injury but it really hurts. The worst part is the day after the injury, when it can be even sorer."
Mason added, "I think that by Tuesday he'll be OK."
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In the last five years, there have been 11 straight playoff series wins by teams who swept their opponent in the regular season. The Jazz swept the Spurs 5-0 during the 1993-94 season.
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The regular season record doesn't bode well for the Spurs in the second round, either. If San Antonio gets past the Jazz, the Spurs will likely meet Seattle in Round 2. The Spurs were 0-4 against the Sonics in '93-94.
ADDENDUM: Jay Humphries' 25 points was his high for a playoff game. . . Game Two featured just one lead change. The Spurs led until 8:46 in the secnd quarter, after which the Jazz took the lead and never trailed again . . . The Spurs have lost five straight in Utah, dating back to Nov. 25, 1992 . . . David Robinson: "Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong today."