End of line for Malone, Stockton? – Kings 111, Jazz 91

? The Sacramento Kings are moving on — and the Utah Jazz can start wondering what their dynamic duo will do next.

Chris Webber had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Peja Stojakovic scored 22 points as the Kings advanced to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Jazz, 111-91, Wednesday night to win their best-of-seven series in five games.

The Kings never trailed while forcing their up-tempo style on the Jazz. Bobby Jackson had 18 points and six assists for Sacramento, which will face the winner of the Dallas-Portland series in the conference semifinals.

But the game probably will turn out to be a historic one. It might have been the final 48 minutes in the partnership between John Stockton and Karl Malone, the Jazz cornerstones who built a perennial winner in small-market Salt Lake City during 18 years together.

Malone, the NBA’s second-leading career scorer, has strongly hinted he plans to finally follow through on his frequent threats to leave Utah to play for a championship contender. The 41-year-old Stockton will consider retirement after being an effective point guard for 19 seasons — longer than any player in league history.

What’s more, Utah coach Jerry Sloan has hinted he might be ready to retire after 15 seasons. He’s the longest-tenured coach or manager in the four major pro sports.

Stockton found Malone for three of his seven assists — the last on a six-foot jumper off a pick-and-roll late in the first half.

Malone finished with 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting, and Stockton had eight points in 28 minutes. Sloan removed them simultaneously with 5:01 left — and the Arco Arena fans, witnesses to dozens of dominant Jazz performances over the years, gave them a lengthy, emotional standing ovation.