NBA - PLAYOFFS
Jazz, Spurs alive and kicking
Monday 12 May 2008
Defending champion San Antonio defeated the New Orleans Hornets to tie their Western Conference semi-final on 2-2, while the Utah Jazz held off the Los Angeles Lakers in a thrilling 123-115 overtime victory to level the series.
Monday 12 May 2008
By Reuters
The Utah Jazz held off the Los Angeles Lakers for a 123-115 overtime victory to tie up their best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series at 2-2 on Sunday.
"We just kept our composure," Deron Williams, who had 29 points and 14 assists, told reporters. "Once we sent it into overtime, we felt like we could still keep going."
The San Antonio Spurs also rebounded from a 0-2 start, defeating the New Orleans Hornets 100-80 to tie their Western semi-final series at 2-2.
Tim Duncan had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the NBA champions while Tony Parker added 21 points. Chris Paul scored 23 points for New Orleans but received little support from those around him. Williams did not have that problem in Salt Lake City as five of his team mates joined him in double figures. Mehmet Okur had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kirilenko blocked five shots and scored 15 points and Carlos Boozer contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Kyle Korver also had 14 points and Matt Harpring added 12 as Utah opened the overtime session with a 9-2 run to take control. Bryant had five of his team's seven points in overtime, but was slowed by the back spasms, which allowed Kirilenko to block a pair of his shots.
"I was angry at his team mates for dropping the ball in his lap," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I felt guys just bailed out on him." Derek Fisher scored 10 consecutive Los Angeles points to spark a fourth-quarter comeback. He finished with 15.
Lamar Odom, who had 26 points, sent the game into overtime on a tip-in with four seconds remaining in regulation and Pau Gasol added 23 points.
LA forward-center Ronny Turiaf had two flagrant fouls called on him in the second quarter and was ejected from the game after a hard foul on Utah's Ronnie Price. Price needed several stitches to close a cut about his right eye. Game Five is in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
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