Jazz Bounce Back Against Portland

Jazz Bounce Back Against Portland


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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- One night after getting blown out, the Utah Jazz played with a lot more effort on the defensive end.

Andrei Kirilenko had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who handed the Portland Trail Blazers their 10th straight loss with a 102-89 victory on Saturday night.

Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers' Viktor Khryapa (38) in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Rose Garden, in Portland, Ore. The Jazz defeated the Trail Blazers, 102-89. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers' Viktor Khryapa (38) in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Rose Garden, in Portland, Ore. The Jazz defeated the Trail Blazers, 102-89. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

The Jazz had lost to the Clippers by 15 points on Friday night as Los Angeles shot 55 percent from the field.

"All I'm asking for from these guys is for them to compete hard ... If you like the game enough, this is what you want," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

This time, it was Portland's effort that was lacking. The Blazers were outrebounded 48-30, and gave up easy baskets down low.

Mehmet Okur added 21 points and 14 rebounds as the Utah moved into a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference with New Orleans. The Jazz are two games behind Sacramento.

Zach Randolph scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half for the Blazers, whose losing streak is their longest since dropping 12 in a row in 1986.

"With the offensive and defensive rebounding, they killed us on the boards," said Blazers rookie Martell Webster, who had 14 of his 23 points in the first quarter. "That's the game right there."

Jarrett Jack added 12 points and eight rebounds for Portland, which is last in the Western Conference and 3-24 since Feb. 3. The Blazers have lost all three meetings with Utah this season, getting outrebounded 141-96 in those games.

Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, attempts to defend as Portland Trail Blazers' Martell Webster dunks in the first quarter of thir NBA basketball game Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Rose Garden, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, attempts to defend as Portland Trail Blazers' Martell Webster dunks in the first quarter of thir NBA basketball game Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the Rose Garden, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Utah, the top rebounding team in the league, also shot 48 percent from the field as Portland's defense broke down time and again.

The Jazz led by three after the first quarter, but extended the margin to 54-41 by halftime as Carlos Boozer scored 10 of Utah's last 15 points in the second quarter.

Boozer finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for the Jazz. Deron Williams added 18 points and five assists.

Steve Blake, who had started 50 straight games, sat out for Portland, as coach Nate McMillan began instituting a plan that will call for only two of the Blazers' three point guards -- Blake, Jack and Sebastian Telfair -- to play each game. McMillan hopes the rotation will allow each player more time running the team as the Blazers evaluate talent with an eye on next season.

Jack, the only Blazer to play in every game this year, made his second straight start and alternated with Telfair.

The Jazz bounced back from the 106-91 loss to the Clippers, where all five Los Angeles starters were in double figures.

Afterward, Sloan challenged his team to take advantage of the upcoming games. Three of the Jazz's next four opponents have losing records, including the Blazers, who they play again in Salt Lake City on April 8.

"Hopefully, we showed him that we do want to make it and our focus is still on making the playoffs," Boozer said.

Notes:@ Utah's Kris Humphries started in place of small forward Matt Harpring, who sat out with a sprained ankle. ... Darius Miles airballed two of his five shots and finished with two points and one rebound in 17 minutes for the Blazers. Miles is 1-for-11 from the field with just two points and three rebounds in his last three games.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-04-01-06 2329MST

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