Utah Jazz close out foe at home

Utah's 113-91 series-clinching win over Houston produced a milestone of sorts.

Call it a Sweet 16.

That's now the number of times the Jazz have successfully wrapped up a playoff series at home. The run, which dates back to a 1984 win over the Denver Nuggets in the Salt Palace, has had only two additions since 2000 — last year's Game 5 victory over Golden State and Friday's triumph.

Utah enters the Western Conference semifinals with a 16-7 record in all-time closeout games at home.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said such situations allow teams to find who they are and see how homecourt advantage works.

"That's the thing you always try to tell guys," said Sloan. "... You learn how to get out and play, get ready to play those games."

First of all, he explained, you must be good enough to get the job done. Better teams will still beat you, Sloan explained, regardless of who has homecourt advantage.

That's why he doesn't put much stock in Utah's history of success in closeout games at home.

"There's no guarantee ... Houston has played us hard. They beat us in this building a couple of times, and that's who they are," Sloan said Friday morning. "I just hope our team plays at another level so we can have a chance to win a ballgame."

Mission accomplished.

The Jazz, who haven't missed out on an opportunity to clinch a series at home since losing to Dallas in 2001, have a little help in Salt Lake City.

"It's always been a tough place to play ... Utah has been a team and (Salt Lake) a city where it's hard to come in and win," said Houston guard Bobby Jackson, a 10-year veteran. "I think the fans have a lot to do with that."

And the Jazz players, he added, feed off of it.

A combination of things makes it difficult for visiting teams to prevail.

Jackson, however, experienced it when he played for Sacramento in 2002. The Kings eliminated the Jazz in Utah that season and are the last team to do so in Salt Lake City.

Jackson said that win — as with any victory in Utah — is special.