Jazzman Ronnie Brewer said it was a hard foul, but he didn't think Turiaf had intent to injure. "It's part of basketball that you're not supposed to give up an easy layup. But at the same time, the whistle blew, and there was a lot of force put on it."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who was on the court quickly, said he thought the play inspired the Lakers, who were down eight after Price made a free throw and came back to tie it at the half.

Price only played nine minutes and scored four points, but he had a big impact with his hustle, two steals, two assists and his block on a Luke Walton fast-break layin at 7:18 of the fourth with Utah up eight.

"That block was the play of the game, man," said Boozer.

Price, who had just missed a 3-pointer, raced up behind Walton and blocked the shot from the back, like an Andrei Kirilenko play from a guy who's only 6 feet 2 inches tall.

"I saw him slowing down, so I just went for it, got a hand on it," said Price. "I was a little surprised that I got there in time."

He said he had no worries about going high in the air again in almost the same place where he'd crash-landed two quarters earlier. "It's stitches, man, not a broken bone. I'm not scared of stitches.

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E-mail: lham@desnews.com