 |
Fresno Stars 49-33 (2-6)  |
Callaway Kings 51-31 (6-2)  |
| Score (click for boxscore) | Game MVP | Hi Points | Hi Rebounds | Hi Assists |
| 1. Stars 100, Kings 93 | Doc Rivers | 22 Patrick Ewing | 13 Patrick Ewing | 7 Doc Rivers |
| 2. Kings 113, Stars 103 | Larry Smith | 33 Patrick Ewing | 11 Jerome Kersey | 8 Sedale Threatt |
| 3. Stars 114, Kings 102 | Patrick Ewing | 31 Patrick Ewing | 9 Patrick Ewing | 8 Doc Rivers |
| 4. Kings 90, Stars 87 | Reggie Miller | 33 Reggie Miller | 12 Patrick Ewing | 7 Spud Webb |
| 5. at Callaway | ||||
| 6. at Fresno | ||||
| 7. at Callaway |
Game 1 – The Kings came out hotter than a two-dollar pistol and looked like they were going to run Fresno right out of the Crown Center, bolting to a 35-18 first-quarter lead behind Terry Cummings and company. Patrick Ewing spent most of the first half glued to the pine with three quick fouls, and Fresno trailed 54-39 at intermission with their big fella limited to just two points. But in the second half, the Stars turned the game completely inside out. Ewing came roaring back, owning the painted area, while Michael Cage and Dražen Petrović supplied the firepower that slowly chipped away at the Callaway lead. The Kings still held a 73-70 edge heading into the final quarter, but you could feel the momentum changing uniforms. Cage scored seven straight Fresno points early in the fourth, and when he dropped in a pair of buckets to put the Stars ahead 76-73, the comeback was complete. From there Ewing went to work on the offensive glass, cashing in second chances and pounding home the points that broke Callaway’s resistance. Doc Rivers, named the game’s MVP, controlled the tempo beautifully, handing out seven assists, swiping seven steals, and drilling all eight of his free throws, many of them in winning time. Fresno dominated the hustle categories, outscoring the Kings 20-6 on second-chance points and turning 21 Callaway turnovers into the fuel for a remarkable rally. The final score read Fresno 100, Callaway 93, and the Stars walked out with a first-round playoff road victory that looked mighty unlikely when the first-half smoke cleared.
Game 2 – Two nights after Fresno stole home-court advantage, the Kings came back breathing fire and evened the series with a 113-103 victory before another packed house at the Crown Center. This one was tighter than a drum for most of the evening, with 11 lead changes and 9 ties, but Callaway’s depth finally wore the Stars down in the second half. Patrick Ewing put on a scoring show, pouring in 33 points, but the big fella had one of those nights where every basket seemed to cost him two misses, finishing 14-for-32 from the field. Fresno also left nine points at the free throw line, and in a playoff game on the road, that’s like handing the other club a Christmas present in April. Michael Cage, so instrumental in the Game 1 comeback, was quieter than a church mouse offensively, scoring just two points and never becoming a factor around the basket. The Kings, meanwhile, got contributions from everywhere you looked. Larry Smith was absolutely sensational off the bench, hitting all six of his shots for 12 points and earning Game MVP honors, while Andrew Lang added 11 points on a perfect five-for-five night of his own. Terry Cummings continued to be a load in the low post with 16 points, and the Kings’ reserves flat-out won the ballgame, outscoring Fresno’s bench 55-34. Every time the Stars threatened behind Ewing’s scoring, Callaway answered with another fresh body and another big basket. The Kings shot a sparkling 53.5 percent from the floor, exploded for 33 points in the third quarter, and turned a dead-even contest into an 11-point lead heading into the final stanza. Fresno never quit, but the Kings had too much balance, too much efficiency, and too many answers on this night. So the series heads west all tied at one game apiece, and if the first two games are any indication, these clubs are going to give us a dandy before it’s all over.
Game 3 – Oh, what a night at Selland Arena, folks, as the Fresno Stars exploded past the Callaway Kings, 114-102! Patrick Ewing was a one-man highlight reel, raining in 31 points, grabbing nine boards, and swatting shots like they were flies—he’s your game MVP, no question! Callaway’s Reggie Miller tried to keep it close, dropping 28 with a mix of drives, free throws, and that smooth three-pointer early in the first, but Fresno’s balanced attack, with Doc Rivers, Sedale Threatt, and Jerome Kersey chiming in, kept the scoreboard ticking. The lead changed hands four times, nine ties, and every quarter was a mini-battle, but the Stars’ fast-break precision and dominance in the paint finally pulled them away. From start to finish, it was a back-and-forth thriller with thunderous dunks, clutch free throws, and enough energy to light up the Valley—what a game, ladies and gentlemen!
Game 4 – The Callaway Kings marched into Selland Arena and, baby, they had to earn every inch of this 90-87 playoff victory over the Fresno Stars. Reggie Miller put on a shooting clinic, pouring in 33 points and hitting big basket after big basket whenever Fresno threatened to take control. The Stars led 40-37 at halftime, but the Kings came out of the locker room and turned up the defensive pressure, outscoring Fresno 29-21 in the third quarter to grab the momentum. Fresno wouldn’t go away, slicing an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit down to just two after Dražen Petrovic buried a three-pointer with 6.3 seconds left, and the crowd was ready to explode. But Spud Webb calmly stepped to the line and knocked down the final free throw with 5.2 seconds remaining, and the Kings walked out with a 3-point win to tie the series, and enough drama to fill a whole season packed into one unforgettable night.
Game 5 –
Game 6 –
Game 7 –
