Utah Jazz turn to defense to prevent Pistons firing

Deron Williams was credited with three blocked shots and five personal fouls on Saturday night during the Utah Jazz's 100-97 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons at EnergySolutions Arena.

Williams, however, thought his totals in both categories should have been reversed. Two of Williams' fouls came on shots that the Jazz point guard — and vast majority of the18,355 fans in attendance — thought were clean blocks.

"I should have had five (blocks)," Williams said. "They took two away."

But three D-Will blocks were enough to ensure the Jazz's modest winning streak — now at three games — would continue.

Williams' last block was the biggest, as he swatted away the driving lay-up attempt of Detroit's Will Bynum with just 15 seconds remaining in overtime and the Jazz holding on to a slim one-point advantage.

Ronnie Brewer corralled the rebound for the Jazz and Andrei Kirilenko sank two free throws with 9.8 seconds left to provide the final margin of victory.

"We had to win it on the defensive end and that's what we did," said Williams.

Williams finished with 14 points and 11 assists on the offensive end of the court, but it was his defense that was needed down the stretch.

Williams had his hands full defensively in the overtime period when Bynum seemed to decide to try to take the game into own hands, driving to the basket time four times in a row in the final two minutes of the game. Two of those drives resulted in free throws for Bynum — he made three of four — and two resulted in blocked shots by Williams, despite the fact that he was one foul away from being disqualified.

"I didn't even know I had five (fouls)," Williams said. "I had to get a stop. That's what I was more concered with. I couldn't just let (Bynum) go to the basket uncontested. If I had to foul him, I had to foul him, but I thought I played good 'D'."

Williams said he's known Bynum, Chicago native, since his college days at Illinois and so he wasn't surprised that the Pistons' reserve tried to take the game over.

"Will (Bynum) is an aggressive player and he can score in bunches," said Williams. "He's a great player who can make things happen and he made some good things happen down the stretch."

It was Williams, however, led his team to victory — on the defensive end of the court.

e-mail: lojo@desnews.com