Utah Jazz: Losing streak is historic

SALT LAKE CITY — The last time the Jazz lost five consecutive home games Sony had just released its first CD player.

It was the year the Epcot Center opened and the Vietnam War Memorial was dedicated. ET was the biggest movie of the year and Thriller was the hottest song on the radio.

It was 1982 and none of five Jazzmen who started Wednesday's game against Golden State had been born. With the 107-100 loss, the Jazz match a streak set in decade most of the players on this roster don't even remember.

"I wasn't even thought of yet," said CJ miles, who scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss. "My parents were probably just getting out of high school. That's crazy."

It is not a fact the players are proud of, but they were unable to turn the tide Wednesday night.

"I'm mad we lost," said Al Jefferson, who scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. "I'm not mad at the effort."

For Deron Williams, who's played his entire career in Utah, it is unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory.

"We lost more games at home already than I've lost in probably two or three years," said Williams, who scored 18 points and had 11 assists. "It's tough, but it happens. We have to figure out ways to win."

Part of the cure, the players agree, includes getting Raja Bell, Andrei Kirilenko and Ronnie Price healthy.

Miles said the losing streak is a combination of fatigue — mental and physical — and a team with only nine players healthy enough to suit up.

"It will be great to get some of these guys back," Miles said. "That's all our perimeter guys. It's just me and Gordon. It's been tough. It's definitely fun to play the minutes, but it's nice to have everyone so guys can stay fresh."

And, he said, they need the passing, shooting and defense of those three men.

The Jazz could have used fresh legs in trying to contain guard Monta Ellis, who led all scorers with 35 points.

"He is a tremendous talent," said Millsap, who scored 22 points and earned six rebounds. "The shots he hits — it's crazy."

Ellis said the Warriors looked at Wednesday's contest as a postseason game.

"It was a big game for us," Ellis said. "We treated it like it was a playoff game, and we came out and played together and got the win."

Warriors head coach Keith Smart said they knew beating the Jazz at home, after the turmoil of the last week and a half, would be difficult.

"This is a big step for us," said Smart of the Warriors who are now 5-5 in their last 10 games against the Jazz. "Knowing that this team was desperate, they had to try and get a win and our guys fought through it."

Miles said the fact that Golden State hit 42 percent of their 3-point shots made it tougher to defend them

"They spread the floor so far," Miles said. "They hit three 3s in a row, and then the fourth time, you can't help on defense as much as you should and that's when they start to pick you apart."

The Warriors scored 54 points in the paint to Utah's 48.

"Things haven't gone our way on or off the court," said Williams.

e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com