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SALT LAKE CITY -- Pass first, shoot second. What is usually a stereotype of a point guard's mentality has caught fire with the entire Jazz roster.
The Jazz, who dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies 120-93 Monday, finished with 28 assists. Six Jazz players finished with more than ten points while three had more than 20. Everyone is sharing the ball.
In the first quarter, the Jazz made 12 shots, with nine of those coming off assists. Utah scorched the nets, shooting 71% in the quarter.
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Boozer has 24 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists for Jazz in win
Carlos Boozer had 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists and the Utah Jazz tied their season-best winning streak with their third straight victory, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 120-93 Monday night.It's not Christmas yet, but the new focus of the team has led to unbelievable shooting percentages and prolific offensive outputs. Against the Grizzlies, Utah scored 95 points through three quarters, enough to match and beat all three of their last opponents for the entire game.
The Jazz have compiled 93 assists over their last three games, all wins. The Jazz had 36 assists in a 108-92 win over Portland Saturday and 29 against Chicago two nights earlier.
"We're trying to share the basketball," Utah Jazz Head Coach Jerry Sloan said. "When you do that, you get better shots."
Perhaps the most impressive part is that it isn't just one player, but the whole team filling up their stat sheets with assists. Carlos Boozer finished with seven against Memphis, while Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor both had five. Point guard Deron Williams recorded six. In contrast, the Grizzlies only had 15 for the entire game.
"When we execute and pass the ball to the open guy we are usually in pretty good shape. Not all the time, but most of the time," Coach Sloan added.
Utah barely missed shooting over 60% for their third straight game, mostly because the Jazz had a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter and Sloan pulled out the starters.
The Jazz return to the hardcourt Friday against the Indiana Pacers.
