Jazz bring end to Lakers' 11-game streak, 102-94
Associated Press
| |||
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz were loaded with incentives.
The Los Angeles Lakers were loading up Kobe Bryant with IV fluids.
The combination gave the Jazz a decided advantage and they capitalized with a 102-94 win last night, ending the Lakers' 11-game winning streak.
The Jazz weren't focused on stopping the longest streak in the league or even beating the team that knocked Utah out of the playoffs the past two seasons. It was the six points that Utah scored in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Lakers earlier in the week that was still rankling the Jazz.
"We're definitely happy with how we played tonight," said Deron Williams, who had 21 points and 11 assists. "The effort was a lot better, especially in the fourth."
Williams scored the first eight points of the fourth yesterday for a 17-point lead and the ailing Bryant wasn't up to leading a comeback. He had a broken index finger from a game the night before and was fighting a stomach bug, which caused him to get fluids before the game and at halftime.
The Jazz held Bryant to 16 points on 7-of-24 shooting. Bryant didn't score in the second half until less than five minutes remained in the game and Utah led by 15. He didn't speak after the game.
"I think it was just energy-wise for him," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He'd figure out a way to go at it if he had the energy, but I just don't think he had the energy."
Carlos Boozer had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Jazz and Wesley Matthews and Ronnie Brewer scored 19 apiece for Utah. Mehmet Okur added 10 points as all five starters for Utah scored in double figures.
"I thought our guys played extremely hard," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We made a few mistakes, but everyone was involved and did a good job of trying to find the open man."
Every member of Los Angeles' starting five was also in double digits, but they couldn't keep up with Utah's starters.
Pau Gasol had 20 rebounds, tying the career high he set the night before in a win over Minnesota. He and Ron Artest had 16 points each, and Andrew Bynum added 13 for Los Angeles, which had 17 turnovers in its first loss since Nov. 15 at home to Houston.
Pacers 114, Wizards 113: Mike Dunleavy benefited from two replay reviews and made two free throws with one-tenth of a second left to help visiting Indiana withstand Gilbert Arenas' triple-double (22 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists).
Indiana's T.J. Ford dribbled the length of the court for a layup and the ball was tipped out of bounds by Washington's Brendan Haywood. The clock showed that time had expired, but a replay put five-tenths of a second on the clock.
The Pacers then lobbed the ball to Dunleavy, who was fouled as time expired. A second review put one-tenth of a second on the clock, and Dunleavy sank both shots.
MAVERICKS 98, BOBCATS 97
Dirk Nowitzki hit a 10-foot jumper with 1.8 seconds left in overtime, and host Dallas improved to 11-0 all-time against Charlotte.
Nowitzki scored 36 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
He hit a fadeaway over Boris Diaw from the left elbow, capping a frantic ending where the teams exchanged the lead six times in the final minute.
CELTICS 106, BULLS 80
Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 14 assists, and visiting Boston won its 10th straight. Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House scored 15 apiece.
Kevin Garnett added 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Paul Pierce scored 14 even though he sustained a stinger on his right shoulder and hit just 4 of 12 shots.
BUCKS 108, TRAIL BLAZERS 101
Luke Ridnour scored six of his 20 points in the second overtime and host Milwaukee beat Portland.
Andrew Bogut tied his season high with 27 points, and Brandon Jennings added 18 for the Bucks, who snapped a five-game skid against Portland dating to Dec. 6, 2006.
NUGGETS 105, SUNS 99
Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and Chauncey Billups shook off an awful first half to lead host Denver past Phoenix.
Billups, whose first half included three turnovers and three fouls, scored 24 points and sank five 3-pointers in the second half.
PISTONS 104, WARRIORS 95
Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points and Charlie Villanueva added 24 as host Detroit won its fifth straight game.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton, playing after missing 21 games with a sprained right ankle, had 18 points in 37 minutes.
KINGS 120, TIMBERWOLVES 100
Jason Thompson had 23 points and 13 rebounds to help host Sacramento snap a four-game losing streak.
Tyreke Evans scored 18 points, and Beno Udrih had 16 points and seven assists for the Kings.