Peja Stojakovic added another stellar performance to a season full of them. The sixth-year forward scored 26 of his career-high 41 points in the second half to help the Sacramento Kings rally from an early 17-point deficit and beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-97. Brad Miller had his fifth straight double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds, and reserve guard Bobbie Jackson scored 10 of his 20 points in the second quarter as Sacramento (20-6) trimmed a 17-point deficit to 54-52 by halftime. But Stojakovic, who entered tied for third in the NBA with a 24.3 per-game scoring average, was the main reason the Kings won their fourth straight and moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for first in the Pacific Division. He made five of Sacramento's nine 3-pointers, and converted 14-of-15 free throws, including three with 11.7 seconds left to reach his career high. Doug Christie had 18 for the Kings, who have won 16 of 18. ``The second quarter was really good, we came with a lot of energy, came back and made it even,'' Stojakovic said. ``After halftime we came out with more energy in the second half, and that was it.'' Pau Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds to lead Memphis (15-13). James Posey added 18 before being ejected with 11.7 seconds left after receiving his second technical foul. Memphis, playing its fourth game in five nights, had its biggest lead with just under three minutes left in the first quarter. It took the spark provided by Jackson in the second quarter to bring life to the Kings. ``I just thought that as the game went on we just really maintained a really good mental toughness,'' Kings coach Rich Adelman said. ``In the first quarter we just came out really flat -- I don't know what it was. The guys just did a great job in the second half.'' Sacramento led by as many as 12 in the third, but the Grizzlies cut the lead to 75-70 by the end of the quarter. In the fourth, Jackson hit two 3-pointers and Stojakovic nailed another to give Sacramento an 87-76 lead with 8:17 left. ``We lacked energy in our game plan,'' Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said. ``I thought it was extremely difficult for us to maintain the lead with them shooting 26 foul shots. It was extremely difficult.'' The second quarter was a feisty affair featuring technical fouls by Stojakovic and Memphis' Gasol and Bonzi Wells. With seconds left in the fourth and with the crowd chanting for Stojakovic to eclipse the 40-point barrier for the first time in his career, Posey fouled the Kings forward hard on a drive to the basket, and both players fell to the floor. Posey was ejected, and Stojakovic hit three free throws to reach his final point total. ``The fans got into it, and we were going back and fourth,'' Stojakovic said. ``The game is played 48 minutes, and (Posey) shouldn't worry about playing defense on the last possession, but during the first four quarters. Ifhe wanted to make a big defensive play, he should have done it before that.'' Kings were awaken from a earlier loss in Vancover and decided to bring their real game. Peja drops 41 but later is suspended for bumping a ref later apologized for the minor "love-tap". J-Dubb and Watson combined for 14 points shooting 5/16 were never able to get any easy baskets from the kings backcourt defense...... Further note: A Christmas day game with the MAVS minus Webb and Peja.. what a shame.
