Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer's back, wreaking havoc on the Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY — It really was just a matter of time.

With his strained oblique still healing, and teammates stepping up in the Jazz's previous victories over the Nuggets in their first-round series, forward Carlos Boozer waited his turn to play a starring role in Utah's surprising playoff domination over Denver.

Until Sunday.

Boozer's 31 points and 13 rebounds — produced by destroying Denver's big men on the pick-and-roll, the pick-and-pop and beating them down the court in transition — was a key factor in Utah's 117-106 Game 4 win.

"It was great," Boozer said. "I feel like I've had a great series. I look forward to the rest of the series. Hopefully we can end this thing (Wednesday) and get some rest and get healthy."

Boozer's big game against the Nuggets came with him still dealing with the oblique injury he suffered in Utah's next-to-last regular-season game against Golden State.

"I'm not 100 percent yet, but I'm feeling better and better every day and that's how I've felt since the playoffs started," Boozer said. "It's healing, so I'm feeling a lot better today."

Boozer averaged 19 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in first three games of the series before exploding on Sunday. He's actually played quite well the last six quarters of the series. After missing his first five shots in Game 3 on Friday, Boozer scored 14 points in second half of that game.

Denver's defense was a factor in Boozer's breakout night in Game 4. Acting Nuggets coach Adrian Dantley, searching for answers, played Boozer more straight up, and it didn't work. Kenyon Martin, a defensive specialist who's obviously not playing at 100 percent, was no match for Boozer.

"The first few games, they were kind of shadowing him and Deron (Williams)," said Jazz forward Paul Millsap. "The other night (in Game 4) they kind of let him go and we took advantage of it."

Coach Jerry Sloan said there wasn't much difference in Boozer's play in Game 4 compared to Games 1-3 — or the rest of the season, for that matter.

"He's played well all year," Sloan said. "It wasn't anything new. He had bigger numbers, but he's played well all year. Generally, in all the stuff we do, I think he's played very well. He's had a terrific year."