Utah Jazz: Okur is regaining confidence after another big game

SALT LAKE CITY — A large crowd of media members gathered in front of Mehmet Okur's locker after the Utah Jazz's blowout win Saturday night.

Some reporters there even wanted to talk to the big center and not just to the new kid in town who now sits next to him in the locker room.

While Othyus Jeffers added a grand finale to the Jazz's 107-85 blowout win, his new next-door neighbor at EnergySolutions Arena stole most of the show.

Okur hit the 20-point mark for a second consecutive game — the first time he's done that all season — and finished with a game-high 27 points on 11-for-17 shooting.

"How about that?" said a smiling Okur, who hadn't had back-to-back 20-point games since doing it three times in a row a year ago.

"It feels good right now," Okur said two nights after scoring a team-best 24 in Thursday's win over Phoenix. "I've got my confidence back a little bit."

It showed — and not just from behind the 3-point line.

Okur seemed to score from everywhere, with perhaps his most memorable basket coming halfway through the fourth quarter after his own missed 3-point attempt.

"I was open. I should have made it first and second I didn't give up," Okur said. "And I just wanted to get the rebound and finish strong."

Did he ever.

Okur followed his errant shot, drove from the free-throw line and slammed the ball in with force.

"Drew Gooden was in my way," Okur explained. "He kind of stepped back and then I went to finish with dunk."

A timeout was called, and Okur celebrated the shot, which put Utah up 94-78, all the way back to the team huddle by twirling his extended right index finger in the air.

Moments later, he swished his third trey and held up three fingers on both arms after making it 99-80.

Okur gave the crowd plenty to cheer about out of the locker room when the Jazz took control of the game, too.

The 6-foot-11 center hit a 3-pointer 13 seconds into the third quarter and had an assist and a steal during a 7-0 Utah run. A few minutes later, he sank a hook shot, had a block and assisted Wesley Matthews on a 3-pointer.

Okur said the Jazz wanted to take it at the Clippers, who led by as many as 10 in the first half, in the final two quarters. He seemed to lead that charge.