Sacramento

Before he headed back to the North Pole, Santa Claus left something really nice in the Sacramento Kings' stocking. And, unlike an ugly tie or a stale fruitcake, this Christmas gift ought to have some lasting importance into the New Year. The Kings, who flamed out in last season's Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, erased some of that hurt with a 105-99 win over their nemesis in Los Angeles on Christmas Day, perhaps serving notice that they are ready to push past the Lakers and into the NBA Finals.

Conference finals (Best of seven; *-if necessary) Eastern Conference New Jersey vs. Boston (Series tied 1-1) Game 1: New Jersey 104, Boston 97 Game 2: Boston 93, New Jersey 86 Tomorrow: New Jersey at Boston, 5:30 p.m. Monday: New Jersey at Boston, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday: Boston at New Jersey, 9 p.m. *May 31: New Jersey at Boston, TBA *June 2: Boston at New Jersey, TBA Western Conference Sacramento vs. L.A. Lakers (Series tied 1-1) Game 1: L.A. Lakers 106, Sacramento 99 Game 2: Sacramento 96, L.A. Lakers 90 Today: Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 9 p.m. Sunday: Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday: L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, 9 p.m. *May 31: Sacramento at L.A. Lakers, TBA *June 2: L.A. Lakers at Sacramento, TBA NBA Finals (Best of seven; *-if necessary)

Western Conference No. 1 Sacramento vs. No. 4 Dallas Playoff path: The Kings eliminated Utah in four games in the conference quarterfinals, while Dallas swept Minnesota in three games. Season series: The Mavericks beat Sacramento three times in four regular-season games, including twice on the road. Kings outlook: Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Vlade Divac all shot below their average in the Utah series. ... The Jazz outscored Sacramento in the paint in three of four games. ... In the four regular-season games with Dallas, Mike Bibby's scoring average was 3.4 points lower than against the rest of the league.

In a deal that reduces its legal, regulatory and fuel cost risks, Constellation Energy Group Inc. has reached a new long-term agreement to sell all the electricity produced at its unfinished High Desert Power Project to the California Department of Water Resources. The California agency will pay Constellation's Power Source unit $12.1 million per month for almost eight years, or $1.1 billion. A comprehensive settlement reached late Monday also releases Constellation from a complaint the state filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in February against companies with long-term power contracts with the California Department of Water Resources.

Second round Today South Regional At Greenville, S.C. Alabama..........1 1/2......................Kent State Duke..............15 1/2......................Notre Dame East Regional At St. Louis Kentucky............5 1/2..................Tulsa Midwest Regional At St. Louis Kansas 5 Stanford West Regional At Abluquerque, N.M. Ohio State 1 1/2 Missouri Arizona 8 Wyoming South Regional At Sacramento, Calif. Indiana 8 1/2 UNC Wilmington Midwest Regional At Sacramento, Calif.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In the backs of their minds, the Washington Wizards know they stole a win last week at home against the Sacramento Kings, who came into MCI Center tired and ready to go home after an extended East Coast swing. There would be no such pilfering last night as the real Kings, the team with the best record in the NBA, slowly but surely blistered the Wizards, 109-93. Rested and relaxed and back at Arco Arena, the toughest place in the league for a road team to get a win, the Kings shook off a hesitant start, then methodically took Washington (26-23)

WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan said the other day that his Washington Wizards teammate Popeye Jones deserved to be heading to Philadelphia for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game as much as he did. Given that Jones is usually a third or fourth offensive option at best, Jordan's declaration may have seemed like hyperbole, but the veteran power forward played like an All-Star physically and mentally last night, helping the Wizards to a 108-101 win over the Sacramento Kings...