|
|
 |
 |
|
| |
Thursday, Mar. 9 9:00pm ET
Jazz singe Nets, smoke Rockets | |||||
|
| ||||||
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- It seems everyone on the Utah roster is shooting well these days. The Jazz also are getting a nice lift from the bench. John Stockton and Howard Eisley scored 17 points each while Karl Malone and Bryon Russell each had 16 as hot-shooting Utah beat the Houston Rockets 101-82 Thursday night. Utah shot 56.9 percent (41-of-72) to win its sixth straight. The Jazz pulled away steadily from a 46-44 halftime lead, getting a late boost from the bench, to win for the 11th time in 13 games since the All-Star break. The Utah reserves produced 29 of Utah's 32 fourth-quarter points. Jazz veterans Stockton, Malone and Hornacek stayed on the bench throughout the final period, resting for Friday night's showdown at Phoenix. "It's a great opportunity for us to show what we can do out there," said reserve point guard Jacque Vaughn, who scored eight. "It's a good chance for our starters to get ready for an even tougher game tomorrow." Moochie Norris and Shandon Anderson scored 16 each for the Rockets, while Kelvin Cato had 15 and Bryce Drew 11. Rookie point guard Steve Francis had 14 points two nights after scoring a career-high 32 in a loss to Phoenix. For the second straight game, shots fell for the Jazz. Stockton made 8-of-11 from the field, while Eisley shot 7-of-11 and Malone was 6-of-12. Utah shot 60 percent in a victory over Cleveland on Tuesday, and the hot streak kept going when the Jazz made their first four shots while racing to an early 11-1 lead. "We're getting easy looks. That's the bottom line," said Jazz center Olden Polynice. "It's a lot easier when you get a few layups early. I don't think teams really are contesting us." The Jazz found an answer each time Houston threatened in the second half. The Rockets pulled within 54-52 with 8:49 remaining in the third on a 3-pointer by Drew, but Utah went on a 12-4 run over the next 3:43. "We played very well, and then the dam broke," said Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich. "They just got into a zone, just shooting the ball. But I thought it was a competitive game, a fun game that got away from us." When Houston cut it to 69-66 early in the fourth quarter on a jumper by Norris, the Jazz reserves scored the next eight points. Vaughn scored twice during that burst. "We did a pretty good job of executing our offense most of the time," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "When we execute, set the screens and get the ball where we want it to go, then we're OK." Francis was sour afterward in the Houston dressing room. "They're an aggressive, cheap-shot sort of team," Francis said. "They beat us," he added. "I ain't going to cry about that. I thought we played aggressive for probably three-and-a-half quarters. Toward the end, you just can't buy any buckets late in the game." Game notesUtah has beaten Houston 12 straight times. ... Jazz fans booed Anderson during introductions and each time he touched the ball. He signed with the Rockets as a free agent after three seasons in Salt Lake City. ... Utah's longest winning streak was seven straight from Dec. 4-15. ... Houston's Cuttino Mobley didn't travel. The team cited undisclosed personal reasons. Starting forward Walt Williams didn't dress because of a back strain. Both played in Tuesday's loss to Phoenix. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Houston Clubhouse Utah Clubhouse RECAPS Indiana 127 Portland 119
Utah 101
  | |||||