Utah Jazz: Duo carries shorthanded team
By the time injured small forward Andrei Kirilenko bowed out at halftime due to muscle spasms in his right calf, the Jazz were missing more than 35 points from their starting lineup.
But point guard Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer made up much of the difference Friday night, combining for 66 points in the Jazz's 121-101 victory over the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.
It was the first time this season the two — who usually average a combined 41 — have teamed for that many points.
And it was something both sensed they needed to do from the start.
"We just looked at each other," Boozer said after the Northwest Division-leading Jazz closed a five-game homestand 4-1 and improved to 48-25 overall. "We knew when we've got people out, we have the ability to raise our game to another level. And we did that tonight. We had to. We miss a lot when Memo's out of the game, A.K.'s, out of the game, Ronnie Brewer."
"You've got 14 points (Okur) and 12 points (Brewer) missing from our starting lineup," Williams added, "so we definitely have to be more aggressive to start the game. And I think we did that, and set the tone."
But it was Williams who established control early on, scoring 22 of his 32 points before the break. Williams, who shot 13-of-15 from the field, also dished 10 assists for his 46th double-double this season.
"It was great for him to take over," Boozer said.
"He sees so much, and knows so much, for a young player," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan added with regard to Williams, who scored 14 in the first quarter and helped Utah to a 56-43 halftime lead. "It's really unusual, as long as I've been around. You know, John (Stockton) didn't get to play his first two-and-a-half years."
Williams' first-half effort showing against the Pacific Division cellar-dwelling Clippers (21-51) was over the top.
Quite literally, in one instance.
When backup power forward Paul Millsap — who also was throwing up Friday night, though he managed to play — tapped a steal from Smush Parker to his point, Williams soared over 7-foot Clippers center Chris Kaman for a rather memorable dunk.
Williams tried to downplay the jam, suggested Kaman — one of the NBA's top shot blockers — could have rejected him had he been a bit more daring.
"He (Kaman) had three fouls," Williams said. "He said he would have put me on my butt if he didn't have fouls."
But Boozer — who scored 14 during a second half in which the Jazz led by double-digits for most of the way, and by as many as 28 early in the fourth quarter — saw the sequence for what it was.
"I told (Williams) that might have been play of the year," the Jazz All-Star said.
Jazz fans, too, acknowledged Williams' first-half effort with a standing ovation.
"It feels good," Williams said. "I didn't get a Deron Williams chant like Kyle Korver, though, so I'm waiting for that."
With Okur taking ill with the stomach flu (for the second time in as many weeks) Friday afternoon and Brewer unexpectedly doing the same shortly before the game, and Kirilenko having to leave early, Korver and several others filled in where Williams and Boozer did not.
Korver finished with 18 points off the bench, Millsap added 13 points and sporadically used backup center Jarron Collins pitched in seven while starting in place of Okur.
"We had guys come in and step up," Williams said. "I thought Jarron did a great job of filling in, and played great defense and even scored for us a little bit, and did a great job of rebounding. C.J. (Miles, who started in Brewer's spot) played good.
"I think we've had that happen all year," Williams said. "When somebody goes out, one or two guys go out, we don't seem to miss a beat."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
Recent comments
Playoffs will determine who is better. Jazzy D-Willy King Pin will...
CO2 | March 30, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.
Has he even dunked it at all?
Re: Chris Paul Dunk? | March 29, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.
Take away the teams and let these two go head to head and let'...
D Will > C3PO | March 29, 2008 at 7:09 p.m.
