Jazz fall again

SEATTLE — Hold the confetti. Save the whoopin' and hollerin' for now. Don't honk those horns just yet.

Because, for a second straight game, the Jazz teased everyone into thinking they would somehow take care of business, only to prove again it was not to be.

As a result, for the second time in a row, the franchise that has become a fixture in the postseason failed to clinch its 20th consecutive appearance in the NBA playoffs.

On the heels of Friday night's overtime loss to the New York Knicks, Utah fell again in a close one, this time succumbing 82-80 to the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday night at Key Arena.

They did at least make it interesting, reeling off an 18-2 run to briefly lead in the final minute, then watching Matt Harpring's would-be game-winner catch front rim as time expired.

"I thought it was good when it left my hand," Harpring said of his last-second 3-point attempt. "But it was a half-inch short."

That certainly was no consolation to Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who watched his 45-32 club lose for the third time in five games.

"Oh yeah," Sloan said.

"We make a dramatic finish, and really pump it up and want to show how we can do it to finish it," he added. "But we haven't been to do that."

Not on Friday, when the Jazz rallied from 10 points down to force overtime against the Knicks, only to shoot just 1-of-11 from the field in the extra five minutes.

And certainly not on Sunday, when Seattle led 76-62 with six minutes and 24 seconds remaining.

That's when Utah went on its run, finally regaining the lead when John Stockton drove inside, then kicked a pass outside to Karl Malone, whose 16-foot jumper marked his team-leading 22nd point of the night and put Utah up 80-78 with 45.6 seconds to go.

Eleven seconds later, however, Rashard Lewis answered for the Sonics, who themselves are clinging to slim postseason hopes but are still on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture looking in.

Lewis drained a 3-pointer from the right side, making it 81-80 with 34.1 seconds left.

The Jazz came right back downcourt, only to have Andrei Kirilenko force a pass inside to Greg Ostertag. Ostertag never did receive the ball, which rolled on the floor until Reggie Evans swept it up with just 10.7 seconds remaining.