Jazz Survive Detroit Rally, Move to 4-0


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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Scoring eight of his 23 points in the final quarter wasn't quite enough for Mehmet Okur to lead the Utah Jazz past the Detroit Pistons. He needed to make the biggest defensive play of the season, too.

Okur blocked Richard Hamilton's layup in the final second and the unbeaten Jazz held off the Pistons 103-101 Monday night, giving Okur another win against his former team.

Hamilton got past Utah's Andrei Kirilenko and drove for a layup that would have tied it, but Okur saved the Jazz from having to go to overtime by getting across in time to block the shot.

"I was already in the defense and he drove inside," Okur ceived his fourth technical of the season in the second quarter, but managed to keep from being ejected and helped the Pistons stay in the game.

Wallace was still unhappy, to put it mildly, after the game and said he got the technical more on his reputation than what he said after thinking he was fouled when he made a shot that got the Pistons within 44-42 in the second quarter.

"I was just running down the court and said 'And one," Wallace said. "This cat (referee Steve Javie) is looking at me from the other side of the court and he bangs me up."

Wallace and coach Flip Saunders had a few other adults-only words in their postgame comments.

Saunders also got a technical for protesting when Wallace received his, and assistant coach Dave Cowens was called for one that turned Okur's three-point play into a four-pointer in the final few minutes.

After Antonio McDyess slammed in an offensive rebound to give the Pistons a 96-95 lead with about 2:50 left, the Jazz got it right back. Okur made a layup and drew a foul to put the Jazz ahead 97-96 with 2:36 left in the game, then before he could get to the line Cowens was called for the technical.

Fisher, who made both shots after Detroit's technicals in the second quarter, made the free throw, then Okur made his and Utah led the rest of the game.

Saunders said the game shouldn't have been decided by technical fouls.

"My comment is that we might as well play 'PlayStation' if we are going to take the emotion out of it," Saunders said.

Tayshaun Prince got Detroit within 101-100 on a layup, but Okur answered with two free throws with 33 seconds left. Chauncey Billups went 1-for-2 from the line a couple of seconds later and Detroit had a chance when Williams missed a short jumper and couldn't hang on to the rebound.

The Pistons got the ball ahead to Hamilton, who faked out Kirilenko and went in for a layup only to have Okur come across and block it.

"Literally every guy that's playing for us is giving us something offensively and defensively," Fisher said.

Kirilenko had 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Gordan Giricek scored 13 points for Utah.

Flip Murray scored 15 points, 12 in the second quarter, Hamilton had 14 and Billups finished with 10 points and four assists.

Game notes The Pistons haven't won in Utah since Nov. 6, 2002. ... Detroit opened a four-game road trip. ... Boozer had six rebounds in the first quarter. ... Matt Harpring added nine points for the Jazz.

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