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Friday, Dec. 10 9:00pm ET
Stockton directs Jazz to 4th straight win | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- After weeks of frustration, it finally came together for the Utah Jazz. And it was no surprise that John Stockton led the way.
Stockton and Malone each had eight points in the last 6:05 of the first half, when the Jazz took control with a 16-4 run. Vernon Maxwell's three-point play pulled the Sonics within 39-35 but it was their last points for the next 4:04. Utah led 45-35 after Adam Keefe sliced through the lane, took a pass from Stockton and dunked with 2:50 remaining before halftime. The double-digit lead held up the rest of the way. "We finally knew who we are and what we wanted to accomplish," said Keefe, who scored six points. "John, Jeff and Karl led the way in the first half and all the other guys filled in well." Gary Payton scored 22 points and had 10 assists for the Sonics. Brent Barry scored 15 and Vin Baker added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Jazz never trailed and led 23-21 after the first quarter. Utah outscored the Sonics 32-18 in the second period. "They made a run and had a pretty nice lead at halftime," Baker said. "As we all know, they're a pretty tough team to come back from 16 down." Utah had 17 steals, two short of the club record, and forced 21 turnovers that they converted into 17 fast-break points. "We were trying to do the right things, trying to execute, trying to find the right person," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "I felt better about our team tonight, to make a long story short." The Jazz usually passed four or five times to get the right shot. They closed the interior on both ends, holding a 49-34 rebounding advantage. Even the much-maligned Ostertag, who had eight points in the second-quarter burst, seemed to be in the right position for a tip-in or a rebound that produced an easy basket. One week after looking woeful during a 100-75 homecourt loss to Indiana, the Jazz developed the kind of momentum they'll need to maintain during their 11-day, seven-game road trip that begins Sunday in Toronto. "Seattle is definitely one of the best teams in the league," Malone said. "To be able to get a win like this before you go on a trip can give you some momentum, but we've got a lot of work to do." Game notesUtah owner Larry Miller denied a report published Friday in the Tacoma News Tribune that he plans to sell the Jazz two years from now. ... Utah center Olden Polynice was called for a lane violation when Malone shot a free throw four minutes into the game. "That's the first lane violation I've seen in 24 years," said former Jazz coach Frank Layden, seated on press row. ... Former Jazz center Greg Foster, now with the Sonics, was cheered by fans during player introductions. ... Horace Grant, coming back from a two-game layoff, missed the second half after re-aggravating a sprained left knee. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Seattle Clubhouse Utah Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 100 Houston 96
Utah 101
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