Jazz 133 - 139 Hawks
Final - 4OT
  for this game

Jazz start pivotal road trip in Atlanta

Mar 25, 2012 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - A six-game winning streak has the Utah Jazz back in the postseason conversation out West as they get ready to face off with an Atlanta club finishing up a grueling three games in three nights stretch.

Al Jefferson netted a game-high 23 points to pace seven double-digit scorers for Utah on Friday as the Jazz cruised past the Denver Nuggets, 121-102, in Salt Lake City.

Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks had 15 points apiece, Paul Millsap added 14, Devin Harris finished with 13 and C.J. Miles and Derrick Favors both dropped in 12 in the Jazz's sixth straight triumph.

Utah is now tied with Denver for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference and just percentage points behind Memphis. But, that's also precarious as No. 9 Houston looms just one-half game behind.

"This is what we wanted. We have been working our way back in it," said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. "We had a stretch there where we weren't playing as well, but we're back. It's going to be a dog fight the rest of the way. We can't afford to relax now that we're back in the picture. We have got to make sure that we continue to take care of business."

The Jazz, who are starting a three-game road trip tonight that will also feature stops in New Jersey and Boston, are 7-16 as the visitor on the season.

The Hawks are on much firmer footing in the East after earning their third straight win in Washington, 95-92, on Saturday. Joe Johnson's 16 points included the go- ahead three-pointer with 1:04 remaining in that one as Atlanta came back from a 16-point second-half deficit to win for the second straight night.

Josh Smith netted 20 points and came one rebound shy of his fourth consecutive double-double, and Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams scored 13 points apiece for the Hawks, who have won five of their last six overall and currently hold the sixth seed in the East, percentage points behind Indiana.

"We knew we had a chance," said Johnson. "Shout out to our bench for keeping us in the game, getting us back into the game, before me and Josh and the rest of the gang came in and [finished] it off."

Atlanta has won four of its last five against Utah.






Related News