Utah Jazz: Deron Williams comes up big in win

DENVER — Adrian Dantley made a spot-on assessment of the Utah Jazz before Game 2.

If he weren't Denver's acting head coach, the old Jazz player in him might even be pumped up about it.

Considering he is the Nuggets' bench boss for now, Dantley wishes he weren't so darn right about Deron Williams — not that anybody in Utah will feel sorry for A.D.

"The key to their team is Williams," Dantley said matter-of-factly about 11 hours before the unlikely and unbelievable 114-111 Jazz victory late Monday night at the Pepsi Center.

"Williams," he added for emphasis, "is the key. ... He makes them go."

The Jazz Key is making Utah go, all right — go home with a 1-1 first-round series tie after a monstrous 33-point, 14-assist outing.

It was clear on this night that Williams wasn't about to let the Jazz feel sorry for themselves in the wake (not literal) of injuries to Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko.

The All-Star point guard made that point Sunday and again on Monday morning.

"It's very important for us, for our confidence," Williams said, "to strike a little doubt in their mind, so we need to play well."

Confidence?

Check.

Play well and strike some doubt?

Double check.

After the Nuggets regained the lead late on at 106-103 and seemed on the verge of a 2-0 series edge — despite trailing by 14 points in the third quarter — Williams turned it on.

He drove for a bucket that cut the lead to one at 106-105. He missed a go-ahead jumper but then found Kyle Korver wide open for a go-ahead 3-pointer that put the Jazz up again.

Perhaps his most clutch play came with 11.3 seconds remaining when he drilled two free throws to give the Jazz an important three-point cushion for the final short stretch.

"He drove the basketball and did a lot of great things for us," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "He had a terrific game. He's a terrific player, and he gets more confidence as he goes along."