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Boozer, Harpring lead Utah past Memphis

Mar 1, 2007 - 5:19 AM MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz's frontcourt was just too much for the Memphis Grizzlies to handle.

Carlos Boozer scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds and Matt Harpring added 25 points off the bench to lead the Jazz to a 104-88 win over the Grizzlies.

Memphis (15-44) started the game on a 20-4 run and went into the half with a 49-44 edge before running out of gas in the third quarter.

"It was very disappointing the way we came out and started the game on the road, but we picked it up," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We started executing and ran the floor a little better, but we were running in mud to begin."

The Grizzlies held a 67-62 advantage with 4:00 to go in the third quarter before Utah went on a 15-4 run to end the period. Boozer scored 12 points and Harpring had 10 as the Jazz outscored Memphis, 42-21, over the final 16 minutes of the game.

"We didn't come out with the energy that we needed to," Harpring said. "We regrouped in the second half and really took it to them the way we're capable."

"Getting off to a big lead is all part of the game, but a veteran team like that will come back," Memphis coach Tony Barone said. "When they did, they got their confidence and we lost ours."

Deron Williams chipped in 14 points and dished out 10 assists and Mehmet Okur scored 16 as Utah (38-19) won for the ninth time in its last 11 games.

Pau Gasol finished with 28 points but was just 1-of-7 from the floor in the second half for the Grizzlies. Mike Miller added 17 but was just 2-of-12 from beyond the arc.

"We just find ways to lose games instead of win games," Miller said. " If you look at our record, we should have more wins from the way we've played most games. We just need to find a way to win."

"We didn't shoot the ball well," Barone said, "and we took some questionable shots at the end of the first half. ... We were very, very hesitant shooting the ball."

Utah moved one game behind San Antonio for the third-best record in the West.

Guard Chucky Atkins left the game in the first quarter with an ankle sprain for Memphis, which shot just 32 percent (13-of-41) after the half.