Poof! Wizards make Utah Jazz vanish

WASHINGTON — For the longest time the Jazz had hope propped, and even were up by one with just more than two minutes to go.

Then their cause came crashing down like a house of cards blown by a sudden gust, as the previously winless Washington Wizards — sparked by a 12-0 run down the stretch — pulled away for a 95-87 win at the Verizon Center.

"It turned quick," shooting guard Kyle Korver said after the 6-2 Jazz fell for the second time in three outings into a five-game Eastern road swing that continues Friday at Charlotte and closes Saturday in Cleveland.

"It was a crazy game, man," All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer added after the Wizards — without injured star Gilbert Arenas, and the NBA's last team to win this season — improved to 1-5. "I felt like we were right there, and had a chance to win the game. The next thing you know, a couple things here and there bounce their way."

And nothing went the Jazz's way.

Before Washington's decisive run, sixth man Andrei Kirilenko felt as if he had either broken or dislocated his right index finger while battling for the ball.

Kirilenko said he popped the tip of his finger back into place, but he was unable to finish. Postgame X-rays were negative and the Jazz are calling the injury just a sprain, but the forward from Russia said he wasn't sure if he'll be able to go in Charlotte.

With 2:13 left, the Jazz — already playing without starting center Mehmet Okur, who remains at home in Turkey with his seriously ill father — saw backup power forward Paul Millsap fall hard to the floor.

Millsap scored inside despite getting fouled by JaVale McGee, and landed hard on both his left elbow and his backside. But he rose following a long timeout and hit the ensuing free throw, making it 82-81 Jazz.

And then it came crumbling down, aces and kings and all the rest of the court joined in a freefall by the lowliest of hearts and clubs.

"We just kind of hung around and hung around, and didn't really step on them when we needed to," Korver said.

"It doesn't matter who it is," he added. "You let teams hang around, and you're not playing particularly well and they're not playing particularly well, it just takes somebody to hit a couple shots and get a little momentum, and that's how it turns."

Game-high scorer Caron Butler scored five of his 27 during the run, including a 3-pointer over Ronnie Brewer that made it 91-82 with 30.9 seconds left.