From Deseret News archives:

Back in the saddle — Korver's late three helps Jazz vault back into first place

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008 12:37 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
They won their fifth straight game overall, and for the ninth time in a row at home.

They did it in fine fashion, too, getting 23 points apiece from Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer, and a huge-3-pointer from Kyle Korver.

They knocked off the defending NBA champs, fending off a furious fourth-quarter comeback bid — it was a two-point game with less than two minutes remaining — to do it.

What was perhaps most satisfying for the 27-18 Jazz in their 97-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, however, is where it leaves them this morning.

That is atop the NBA's Northwest Division standings, and back holding a postseason playoff position — as one of the Western Conference's top eight teams — for the first time in what seems like forever.

"It's been a long time," Boozer said.

It has.

More than a month, in fact.

Yet here the Jazz are, positioned among the West's playoff qualifiers for the first time since Dec. 18 — back when they were in the midst of losing 9-of-10 on the road that month.

Story continues below
Technically, in fact, Utah's victory over the 28-15 Spurs, combined with Denver's loss at Western Conference-leading New Orleans on Monday, vaults the defending Northwest-champion Jazz not only to the top of the division but also from a non-playoff position to one of the West's top four seeds.

For now.

Of course, it's only by half a game.

And the flip side to that is the Jazz also are only half a game from being out of the playoffs.

On Monday, however, all seemed half-full in a relieved — albeit guarded — Utah locker room.

"It feels good to be back in that spot," said point guard Deron Williams, whose 14-assist, 11-point double-double trumped his 3-of-12 shooting from the field on a night when everyone else and their brother seemed to be knocking down shots.

The Jazz's most proficient shooting came from Kirilenko, who hit a career-best 9-of-10 from the field — including his final eight shots — en route to matching Boozer for team-high scoring honors.

Boozer converted another 10-of-18 from the floor.

Perhaps no shot, though, was more clutch than the one Korver made with 48.1 seconds remaining.

San Antonio, which never did lead, cut what had been a 14-point Jazz advantage late in the third quarter to just two when two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan turned on Boozer and sank an eight-footer, making it 91-89 with 1:30 left.

On the way back down the floor, Spurs sub Ime Udoka picked up a terrifically ill-timed technical foul — his second of the night, resulting in an ejection — for mouthing off to referee Jimmy Clark.

Recent comments

Great schedule to help them out. Knicks by 25 tonight.

Jazz are lucky | Jan. 30, 2008 at 5:57 p.m.

to win a championship was Rasheed Wallace. That year they had Ben...

One more great Power Forward | Jan. 30, 2008 at 5:57 p.m.

To Jazzsmack: Days later and you are still going on with your...

Wah wah wah | Jan. 30, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.

Image
Danny Chan La, Deseret Morning News

Utah's Kyle Korver reacts after knocking down a 3-pointer to put the Jazz up 95-89 with 48.1 seconds left in the game.

previousnext

Latest comments

Cage or no cage.. that snake is HOW BIG?? 20 + feet do you know what kind of...

It's too bad that Max Hall made those stupid comments, or else he would...

Nebraska could now help TCU

Enjoy it while you can TCU. Next year you will see us heading to the BCS Bowl.

Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing

Why don't the professors rise up and do something that will make a difference...

Grief is OK, even for Mormons

Thanks.

Congressional vote on playoffs?

This country has other higher priorities: 1) Job market --don't be fooled by...

Loved watching him play at GT, and figured he was the classic example of a...

Was this justice? No American court would have convicted on the presented...

Those are some great arguments against Beck and Skousen. People who resort...

He is awesome. We need more reps like him. Go Jason!

Advertisements