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SALT LAKE CITY — While the world seemed to be crashing around the Jazz over the past week and their losing skid left them reeling, one win against the Pistons gave them back the control of their playoff lives.
It was really easy to get lost in the downward spiral from last week. The Jazz had gone from the seventh seed to out of the playoffs in a few games. However, after the doom and gloom is gone and the Jazz beat the Pistons 103-90 the Jazz are back in the 8th seed and can play their way into the playoffs.
The Pistons aren't a great team, and losing Brandon Knight early on didn't help, but the with all the negative momentum going it was still a big and tough win for the Jazz.
"It feels great," said coach Tyrone Corbin. "Any time you're on the road and you come back the first game back is traditionally a tough game for you. But I thought our guys were really focused and understood the sense of urgency and got us playing how we had to play as a team."
The win was a two-fold piece of relief. The most pressing was the slide. A team that is feeling momentum push down on them can't take a home game off. The Jazz felt the pressure a little bit. They knew they had to break this slump or they might have played their way right out of the playoffs in March.
"When you on a slide it absolutely is a slide, absolutely it's a relief," said Mo Williams. "When you come back on a long road trip like that it's history that you kind of give one away or it's a close game at the end."
While the Jazz won by 13 the game got pretty close in the second half. The Pistons got hot and cut the lead to six with 5:30 left in the fourth, but the ever evolving, unorthodox lineup for the Jazz got them through the end.
Every player contributed. Enes Kanter continued his stellar play in March with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Marvin Williams had a big night off the bench with 14 and 6. Even Jeremy Evans provided a lot with 8 points, 5 assists and seven rebounds in 24 minutes of play.
They needed everyone to step up because they needed this win.
"It was a must win for us," Mo said. "We know what's at stake, it's no secret. We got to win games. No matter who we play."
Mo had a game high 20 in his first home game back since his thumb surgery, he said he is still getting his energy back, but is feeling better. Al Jefferson was the only player to play over 30 minutes, which should keep players fresh for the end of the race.
It was a must win for us. We know what's at stake, it's no secret. We got to win games. No matter who we play.
–Mo Williams
"It's going to be in and out, up and down," Corbin said. "You're going to move up. We're just worried about playing as best as we can and everything else will take care of itself every night we step out there on the floor. The playoffs is a goal for us. We want to make sure we give ourselves a chance by doing the right things on the floor playing hard as we can every night."
The Jazz are now the 8th spot in the West, tied with the Lakers, but hold the tiebreakers. So, how much different does it feel to be in the playoffs instead of looking in?
"Felt good, but it's a long race, we got to keep fighting as many games as we can just got to fight it out," Burks said.
Burks said that he doesn't do a lot of scoreboard watching, but some teammates do and he finds out through them. Jefferson said that he doesn't either and added, "if we take care of our business we don't have to worry about anyone else."
That is the freedom the Jazz earned last night. On top of getting the 4-game losing streak off their back they also have the freedom to win to get into the playoffs. That will change as the season goes on more likely than not, but for now the Jazz are inside the playoff race.
