Utah Jazz: Irish eyes are smiling on Kyle Korver's birthday

SALT LAKE CITY — They could have found a four-leaf clover or followed a leprechaun to the bottom of a rainbow.

But Irish Utah Jazz fans who wore green No. 26 jerseys to Wednesday night's game had to feel downright lucky with what they ended up with — one heckuva performance from the guy who stole the show from St. Patrick.

The icon from Ireland wasn't the only one who gave Utah's Irish — real ones and pretenders alike — something to celebrate on this festive night. Kyle Korver scored a season-high 20 points, including a dozen in the second half when the Jazz pulled away for a 122-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

"He played great. He's been playing great, though," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "Obviously without (Ronnie Brewer) being here he's getting a lot more minutes, a lot more touches, and he's coming through for us big time."

It so happened Korver provided icing on his own cake for adoring fans who partied it up with him during a win that came on the night of his 29th birthday.

A bunch of well-wishers brought signs for him, including one poster that had two arrows on it and indicated that the two women holding it were his presents.

Several groups also sang "Happy Birthday" to him, including a small fan club about 10 rows behind the Jazz bench as he shot free throws and the 75-or-so Jazz Rowdies at halftime.

"It's just a great day," Korver said with a big smile before leaving to celebrate with friends. "St Patrick's Day, it is a great holiday. Everybody enjoys it. It is very special being part-Irish, having a birthday on St. Patrick's Day."

No blarney.

Korver certainly played like it.

He hit 7 of 9 shots overall and continued to tear it up from outside. The NBA's leading 3-point shooter drilled 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, including a pair in the third quarter as the Jazz turned a nine-point lead into a commanding 14-point advantage heading into the fourth.

Korver's luck might have derived from his shoes.

No, not the basketball ones he sported while nearly busting his foot en route to what he and everyone else in the arena thought was going to be a sure slam dunk in the fourth quarter.