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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Andrei Kirilenko and the Utah Jazz outlasted the Detroit Pistons for their third straight victory.
Kirilenko scored six of his 22 points in overtime and the Jazz beat the Pistons 100-97 on Saturday night. Carlos Boozer scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and overtime to help the Jazz escape a back-and-forth game that produced 17 lead changes and saw no lead larger than five points after halftime.
"It was a tough game for us," said Jazz guard Deron Williams, who finished with 11 assists. "We had to win it on the defensive end and that's what we did."
"I thought Andrei had a great game off the bench," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "Boozer made all these free throws and made some key baskets to help us win the ball game."
Boozer was 10 for 10 from the free-throw line and the Jazz capitalized on a large free-throw disparity. They shot 19 more and made 12 more than Detroit. Utah shot 75 percent from line and made its final eight, including all six in overtime.
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Jazz 6th man: Kirilenko a good fit
Some things are just better as compliments. Popcorn by itself is okay, but combine it with a movie and its a great snack. Andrei Kirilenko coming off the bench is one of those things for the Jazz."Defensively we did a nice job, especially at their house," Pistons coach John Kuester said, "but they got to the foul line 44 times to our 25. So that hurt."
Detroit's Ben Gordon scored 25 points, but missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the final second after two Kirilenko free throws put Utah ahead with 9.8 seconds remaining.
Detroit's Rodney Stuckey scored 18 points, and Charlie Villanueva had 17 points in the Pistons' fourth consecutive loss.
Detroit shot 45 percent from the field, but made just two of nine shots in overtime. The Pistons held a four-point lead after three quarters.
Paul Millsap missed a jumper at the buzzer in regulation after Gordon's two free throws tied it at 90 with 22.1 seconds left.
Utah dressed just nine players and was without starting center Mehmet Okur (flu).
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
