From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz: Back on track Jazz endure late scare to take 3-1 series advantage
The Jazz beat the Houston Rockets 86-82 in Game 4 on Saturday night to go up 3-1 in their first-round NBA Western Conference playoff series, marking the first time in the best-of-seven affair that the home team actually has won.
The series resumes Tuesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, where the Northwest Division-champion Jazz have won three straight postseason games including not only Games 1 and 2 this year, but also Game 7 of last year's first-round meeting between the same two teams.
Utah now 38-5 at EnergySolutions Arena in 2007-08, including one loss to Houston early in the regular season and one to the Rockets in last Thursday's Game 3 of the series got a team-high 17 points from point guard Deron Williams, an 18-rebound, 14-point double-double from center Mehmet Okur and a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double from Carlos Boozer.
Houston cut what had been a 16-point Jazz lead in the third quarter to just one early in the fourth at 68-67, and were within two at 82-80 in the final minute after point guard Rafter Alston followed Shane Battier's deep 3-pointer with one of his own.
Carl Landry's follow dunk of a Bobby Jackson miss again made it a two-point game, this time at 84-82.
But the Jazz who missed 13 free throws in Game 3 sealed the game at the line.
Yet it wasn't without a scare.
Williams missed a pair of freebies with 7.3 seconds left, but Okur was fouled fighting for the rebound of the second miss and hit both shots to ensure the victory with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Though a mad scramble at the end, it was a convincing-enough statement from the Jazz, who were stunned 94-92 in Game 3.
Not that Utah necessarily was out to say anything in particular with Game 4, coach Jerry Sloan suggested beforehand.
"I've never believed in statements," Sloan said, "because you can't win with statements. I've never seen one win yet. You've just got to go out and play and do what you've got to do as a team."
Which is precisely what the Jazz did Saturday, getting a little bit of something from virtually everyone offensively and clamping down on defense as well.
Rockets star Tracy McGrady, coming off a 27-point performance in Game 3, had 11 points at the half and finished with 23, but he needed 9-for-25 field shooting to get there.
Recent comments
Two things to keep in mind:
1) The Rockets seem to actually be...
Perspective | April 28, 2008 at 7:54 p.m.
Scola is his prime. I guess he's 27 so he won't be much better than...
Ak Fan | April 28, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
Scola is definitely underrated. That dude is gonna be so good in a...
asdf | April 28, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.
- Sands China stock tumbles in debut 9:21 a.m.
- Vegas pinning hopes on CityCenter 9:20 a.m.
- Saab CEO courting buyers in Detroit 9:19 a.m.
- Court won't disturb $82M award 9:18 a.m.
- Rumor: Papers paid to shun Google 9:17 a.m.
- Gov't pressures mortgage industry 9:15 a.m.
- Salvation Army kettle stolen 9:05 a.m.
- Charges filed in ATM theft 9:05 a.m.
- Army teams nurture mental health 9:04 a.m.
- Man suspected of killing family 9:04 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- BYU is champion of the state
- Boy shot following traffic stop
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
877 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
477 - Max Hall issues apology
268 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
143 - BYU is champion of the state
138 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
119 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
80 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
We learned a bit more about the basketball team after this weekend.
There are 14 BYU players from Salt Lake Valley. And there are four Utah...
Max Hall... you have one more game left in your career unless you head to...
It's nice to see Utah's ACORN office doing something nice for families this...
Lets just assume for the sake of discussion that you believe in the...
Good thing they chose not to respond. They have no right to complain and no...
'Army (sic) nutures mental health' - title Better late than never....
Its time our two Universities let some so called fans know that their...
You: "Doctors have been forced to perform elective abortions." WRONG Most...
Max, I have admired you through your football career. You are a fantastic...
The international community needs to come together on this. No negotiation....
@Mike Richards | 3:33 a.m. Nov. 30, 2009 "There cannot be 'pushback' from...



