Suns Still Have No Answer for Jazz
The Associated Press
Sunday, February 4, 2007; 4:36 AM
PHOENIX -- Mehmet Okur and the Utah Jazz apparently know something about the Phoenix Suns that the rest of the NBA does not. Okur scored 19 of his 29 points in the second half, including a decisive 19-footer with 5.1 seconds remaining, and the Jazz beat Phoenix 108-105 Saturday night for their third win over the Suns this season.
Deron Williams added 28 points and 10 assists for the Jazz, who have handed Phoenix three of its 10 losses this season and have won four straight against the Suns overall.
  Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, right, of Russia, drives past Phoenix Suns guard James Jones, left, during the 4th quarter in their NBA basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, in Phoenix. The Jazz defeated the Suns, 108-105. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Ross D. Franklin - AP) |
"This year when we've played them we've tried to defend them and cut down on some of their baskets," Williams said. "That's hard to do. We try to make them work on the defensive end and that's why we've had success."
The win was Utah's second in three games since Carlos Boozer went down with a fractured left fibula.
"We have to play 110 percent right now without Boozer, so it was a great win for us," Okur said.
Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Suns, who were without guard Raja Bell because of an inflamed right knee.
"Tonight we did not come to play and we did not come to play until we got ourselves in a hole," said Steve Nash, who finished with 22 points and 10 assists. "We finally fought our way back and had a chance to win, but maybe we didn't deserve to win because we didn't really have the attitude we needed to start the game."
The Suns had a chance to tie when Boris Diaw was fouled by Derek Fisher with 2.1 seconds remaining. But Diaw missed both free throws and Okur pulled down the rebound and was fouled immediately.
Okur made the first free throw to give Utah a 108-105 lead but missed the second and the Suns secured the rebound with 1.1 seconds left.
Andrei Kirilenko deflected Leandro Barbosa's inbound attempt out of bounds with 0.3 seconds remaining and Phoenix was unable to attempt a tying shot.
"We can't play their game," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "We can't get in a running game with them. But if we execute we feel we can get decent shots. We have to be in a half-court game and I think we did a pretty decent job trying to stay in it."
James Jones added 16 points for Phoenix, which has lost two of three after winning a franchise-record 17 straight.
