Stockton sets steals record
Published March 21, 1996|Updated Sept. 15, 2005
John Stockton set the NBA career record for steals and added 14 assists Tuesday night, leading the Utah Jazz over the Boston Celtics 112-98.
With 8:21 to play, Stockton snatched the ball out of the hands of Eric Williams for his 2,311th steal, one more than the previous record set by Maurice Cheeks.
Stockton's big play came after Boston's Rick Fox passed to Williams at the baseline. Utah's eight-time All-Star slapped the ball loose, then passed 16 seconds later to Chris Morris for a three-pointer that put Utah up 100-72.
Karl Malone scored 24 points for the Jazz, who won their ninth straight over the Celtics.
Greg Foster had 16 points, Antoine Carr 15 and David Benoit 14 for Utah, which has won 13 of 16 overall. Stockton added six.
Dana Barrows led Boston with 16 points, while Greg Minor scored 15 and Fox added 14.
MAGIC JOHNSON INJURES LEG: Magic Johnson strained his right calf in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night and was declared out for the remainder of the contest.
Lakers spokesman John Black said Johnson's calf started bothering him in practice Monday. He left Tuesday's game after playing just 1:03. He had no shot attempts, rebounds or assists.
LAKERS: The team said next season it will retire the No.
25 of guard Gail Goodrich, recently elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Goodrich, 53, spent nine of his 14 NBA seasons with the Lakers (1965-68 and 1970-76).