Road triple: Boozer nabs first career triple-double in win

SEATTLE — It wasn't enough that he helped the Jazz win for the 12th time in their last 13 games, or that he scored a game-high 22 points, or even that he had enough rebounds, 11, for his 36th double-double of the season.

No, Carlos Boozer had to go into the break for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in style. And he did just that Wednesday night at KeyArena, also dishing 10 assists for his first career triple-double in the Jazz's 112-93 win at Seattle.

That really does mean career, too.

"That's the first time I've had it — high school, college, AAU, NBA," said Boozer, who even had enough left over afterward to offer a rim shot. "It just means I'm a selfish player."

Jazz starting point guard Deron Williams, too, was in a joking mood after Northwest Division-leading Utah improved to 34-19 heading into their almost week-long break.

"He played great," Williams said of Boozer, who will represent the Jazz in the league's showcase game at New Orleans. "When he wants to, he can pass."

But seriously, folks ...

"He's an All-Star," said reserve point guard Ronnie Price, who delivered a dunk — the Jazz's final basket of the game — that got Boozer his milestone mark. "You know what I mean? He's an All-Star."

"I was impressed by the way he played," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan added. "I thought he was really focused on trying to do the right thing all night long. He played strong, didn't try to force too many things and let the game come to him. I thought he had a really good, solid game."

Boozer knew he needed one more assist for the triple-double, and lofted a long pass ahead to Price for a breakaway basket after stealing the ball away from Seattle rookie Kevin Durant in the game's final minute.

Price let the ball take at least one extra bounce before receiving it, helping to ensure that the assist would be credited.

"He deserves it," Price said of the Jazz's leading scorer and rebounder. "He played a great game."

Many of Boozer's assists came from the high post or in the lane as the 13-38 Sonics played a zone against Utah — including a few to center Mehmet Okur, who finished with a 20-point, 10-board double-double.

"He did a great job in the zone of finding guys," said Williams, who added a 17-point, 10-assist double-double on a night Ronnie Brewer (16) and Paul Millsap (10) also scored in double digits.

"In the second half they did a good job of collapsing on me a little bit," Boozer added, "and my teammates were wide open. They knocked down shots for me, so I looked for them."

Though they never trailed in the game, the Jazz were ahead by only two — 49-47 — at halftime. And when Nick Collison scored with a layup early in the third quarter, Seattle and Utah were tied at 67.