From Deseret News archives:
Utah Jazz celebrate Sloan's 20th with comeback
But they did so only after a rather shaky fourth quarter, making their celebration of Jerry Sloan's 20th anniversary as head coach — a 99-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves — a rather tenuous affair for the man who preaches consistency and preys on uncertainty.
"I thought we were gonna get our heads down a little bit," said Sloan, who downplayed the milestone meaning of it all. "But we fought back, and that's what you like to see."
The 14-9 Jazz trailed by nine points midway through the fourth, but center Mehmet Okur — who kick-started the comeback by hitting a short fade-away jumper for two of his 21 points — provided the final go-ahead basket with 1.7 seconds remaining.
Okur, fed by point guard Deron Williams on something of a mad-scramble in-bounds play, used a running floater over Timberwolves guard Kevin Ollie to put Utah up 97-96.
"I spun, really didn't know what I was gonna do with it," Williams said of his assist to Okur. "I saw Memo last minute. (He) really made a great shot, big shot."
It was at least the seventh game-winner in five seasons with the Jazz for Okur, who also had 13 rebounds to join Williams (12 points, 11 assists) and Paul Millsap (15 points, 10 assists) in the double-double department.
"Coach (Sloan) told us to take it to the hole, don't settle for jump shots," Okur said.
"I was gonna go all the way," he added, "but somebody was right there about to take a charge. So I kind of stopped and went up on one leg."
Minnesota — playing its first game this season with longtime front-office boss Kevin McHale working in place of the fired Randy Wittman, a switch marking the 223rd NBA coach change since Sloan succeeded Frank Layden on Dec. 9, 1988 — did have one last chance to take the lead back.
But 25-point, game-high scorer Ronnie Brewer got a hand on Rashad McCants' attempted in-bounds pass to 21-point scorer Al Jefferson, deflecting the ball to Williams in the left corner.
Williams was fouled by Randy Foye and hit the two resulting free throws, giving the Jazz extra cushion as they overcame a 21 free-throw fourth quarter for the 4-16 Timberwolves.
"I (asked) D-Will (Williams), 'Should I be in the passer's face or do you think I need to back up a little bit?'" said Brewer, the Jazz's starting shooting guard. "Right before he threw the ball, he told me where he (thought) I should be so I could him out a little better and defend on Al Jefferson."
He split the difference and it worked, allowing Brewer to celebrate a minor milestone of his own.
