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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SEATTLE (AP) -- Karl Malone found his shooting touch just in time
for the Utah Jazz.
The perennial All-Star started the second half 0-for-6 from the
field, but came through with six points in the final two minutes,
including a turnaround jumper with 6.2 seconds left, lifting the
Jazz to a 98-95 victory Friday night over the Seattle SuperSonics.
|  | | Utah's Bryon Russell, who scored 18 points, draws the foul on Seattle's Rashard Lewis. |
"It's a thrill to be playing," Malone said. "It feels great
to hit a big shot like that. I know I'll either be the hero or the
goat when the ball is in my hands in that situation."
The Jazz led 96-95 when Malone hit a baseline jumper over Horace
Grant. Vernon Maxwell had a chance to tie the game, but his 3-point
attempt with 2.3 seconds left was short, and Utah controlled the
rebound.
Malone had 21 points and 12 rebounds, as all of Utah's starters
scored in double figures.
The Jazz won for the 12th time in the last 13 games. The Sonics
dropped their third straight home game and fourth in their last
five at home.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was relieved that his team rallied.
"They present difficult matchups for us," Sloan said of the
Sonics. "They're a tough team for us to play."
The teams split four games this season.
Gary Payton scored 28 points, Vin Baker added 25 and Maxwell
added 18 for Seattle. Baker said the Sonics should take heart
because they could have won two of their last three home games.
"Against Portland and Utah, we should have won the games. They
came down to the wire," Baker said. "A break here or there and we
could have won those games."
John Stockton had 15 points and 10 assists for the Jazz. His
bounce pass to Jeff Hornacek for a layup gave the Jazz a 96-93 lead
with 35 seconds left.
"The ability of Karl and Jeff to get open even when the defense
knows what's coming is amazing," Stockton said.
Grant's jumper cut the deficit to a single point before Malone
closed out Utah's win.
Grant said he should have fouled Malone instead of contesting
his game-winning shot.
"If I had to do it all over again," Grant said, "I'd put him
on the foul line and make him earn it."
Malone's two free throws tied the game at 83 with 5:48. The game
seesawed the rest of the way.
Down 74-65 early in the fourth quarter, the Jazz retook the lead
with a 10-2 run sparked by Greg Ostertag with five points for a
75-74 lead with 9:52 remaining.
"Our bench has been key for us in winning the last 20 games or
so," Malone said. "The starters came back in and it was a
two-point game."
The Sonics led 73-65 after three periods. Payton and Baker took
turns leading Seattle. Payton scored eight straight points,
including back-to-back 3-pointers, and Baker scored 10 straight
points at one stretch for a 66-56 lead with 3:58 left in the third
quarter.
Seattle's performance in the first half was a big improvement
over its lackluster play recently.
The Sonics outscored the Jazz 25-16 in the second period and led
45-42 at halftime.
Game notes
Seattle's Ruben Patterson missed his first game of the
season. He did not dress because of a sore Achilles' tendon. ...
Rashard Lewis started for the third time. He and Payton are the
only Sonics who have played in all 69 games. ... Baker played 21
minutes in the first half and did not have a rebound.
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NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 117
Boston 115
Charlotte 102
Toronto 84
Minnesota 116
New Jersey 115
New York 95
Atlanta 83
Orlando 112
Houston 96
Miami 99
Milwaukee 87
Chicago 70
Denver 68
Utah 98
Seattle 95
Portland 96
Golden State 83
LA Lakers 109
Phoenix 101
Sacramento 113
Detroit 103
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