Utah Jazz: Rookie nails shot to hand Jazz loss

LONDON — The crowd, many wearing Chicago Bulls jerseys and a few those of the Utah Jazz, did the wave.

Music pumped through The O2 Arena sound-system, including a version of "If You're Happy and You Know It."

And the public-address announcer seemed to relish calling particularly proper names, like Spencer Nelson and Wesley Matthews.

Ultimately, though, the Jazz's 102-101 NBA EuropeLive 2009 tour loss to Chicago amounted to little more than a mere preseason game.

Still — save for the breakout play of undrafted free agent rookie swingman Matthews, the 16-point performance of point guard Deron Williams, a comeback bid spurred by 18-point scorer Paul Millsap and the continued development of rookie point Eric Maynor — it stung.

Bulls rookie James Johnson rebounded the miss of a 3-point attempt by teammate Derrick Byars, and his 16-foot buzzer-beater from the left side over the outstretched arm of Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko got Utah off to an 0-1 start in its two-game overseas trip.

The Jazz, who visit Spanish League power Real Madrid on Thursday, did not object when told that the international version of hybrid rules being used for the game would not allow an instant-replay to confirm that Johnson's shot beat the clock.

But replays seen later confirmed it did, leaving those from Utah to savor only what did go their way in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,689 at what will be the main basketball venue when London hosts the 2012 Olympic Games.

"I thought Eric did a good job for us trying to run out offense and get us a decent shot every time," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan of Maynor, despite his 1-for-7 field shooting.

Maynor has a guaranteed contract for the coming season, but Matthews — who, with regular C.J. Miles back in the United States and about to undergo surgery on his ruptured left thumb ligament, got a start Tuesday at small forward — does not.

He left a favorable impression, however, after scoring 16 and hitting 3-for-4 shots from 3-point range.

"He's played really hard in training camp, and he played awfully well down in Orlando at (summer league) training camp," Sloan said of Matthews, who played at Marquette and — along with NBA journeyman Ronald Dupree — is a candidate for the Jazz's 14th roster spot.