From Deseret News archives:
The Closers: Jazz keep cool, eliminate Golden State in 5 games
"Wow," ecstatic power forward Carlos Boozer said. "The party's gonna keep rollin'."
That is because Utah outlasted Golden State in Game 5 of their Western Conference semifinal series, getting clutch play in particular from forward Andrei Kirilenko and playoff veteran Derek Fisher for a 100-87 victory on Tuesday night at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena.
With Kirilenko contributing a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double and Fisher scoring another 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field that included 4-of-5 from 3-point range, the Jazz won their first closeout opportunity of the second round.
They took the best-of-seven series 4-1, earning an invitation to the Western Conference finals with Fisher largely to thank for getting them through the door.
"Fisher's been hitting big shots all year, so we go to him down the stretch," Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. "See what happens?"
The Warriors saw Fisher score 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter critical on a night starting point guard Deron Williams struggled with his shooting and finished a miserable 1-for-11 from the field.
Pick your poison.
The Jazz beat the Spurs in two of four meetings this season, but have lost 16 straight in San Antonio and are 0-9 all-time at AT&T Center. The Jazz also went 3-1 against the Suns this season but doing so required overcoming deficits of 15 points and 16 points in a pair of November games.
"We have to stay down on earth," shooting guard Gordan Giricek said, "and wait and see who we're gonna play against."
That issue, then, is for another day.
Tuesday was all about the No. 4 seed Jazz outlasting the eighth-seeded Warriors, who stuck around until the fourth quarter but eventually collapsed along with their fairy-tale season.
Utah took the lead for good when Kirilenko tipped in a failed trey try by Williams to make it 85-83 with six minutes and four seconds to go, and that was the beginning of the end for Golden State.
The frustrated Warriors physical throughout the series, and occasionally downright dirty went through one stretch in which they came up dry on all but one of nine late-game possessions.
The Jazz, though, kept their cool.
Comments
- NFL suspends Eagles CB Hanson 4:02 p.m.
- BSU selling share in Bronco sports 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday's sports transactions 4:00 p.m.
- 4 players sign with Utes 3:59 p.m.
- Television guide to college football 3:58 p.m.
- Parrish Creek Trail - Davis County 3:55 p.m.
- Utah canyon up for designation 3:55 p.m.
- Pride Center honors LGBT service 3:35 p.m.
- Pfizer drug study reports fudged 3:25 p.m.
- Netanyahu, Sarkozy meet 3:24 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
- Utah Jazz have a problem at point
- 'Love story' of crash victim ends
- BYU football recruit turning heads
- 12 Utes return to Texas
- Alta's Ohai is Ms. Soccer 2009
- Prep football: Felt's Facts Week
- Wyoming writer amazed by BYU
- Civilians help S.L. officer make arrest
- Cougars' defensive hoops clinic
- House passes health care bill
274 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
205 - TCU showdown has big implications
189 - Senators want food tax restored
157 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
109 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
108 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
97
Utah State hoops coach Stew Morrill took a few minutes to talk about Weber
Utah kicker Joe Phillips is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza...
what a shame to see cameron look so dull in this move. she is so georgous....
They don't stop you at the door of the hospital or office and ask you your...
so now it's the army they want. i remember a few years ago when they were...
["in Mass. Catholic Services can no longer participate in adoption services"]...
Haws, most likely.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop. This was done for a specific reason and I...
Reid Monson basketball camp in the summer months were great times. Reid even...
I have met intelligent people on both sides of this debate. But in response...
Glad to hear they are practicing so well. Maybe we should win the national...
re: Abe | 9:22 a.m. Nov. 11, 2009 ""4.6 in the forty. Sounds like he'll...



You can be the first to comment on this story.