Heat steal victory in ESA
SALT LAKE CITY – Whether it was fatigue from the second game in as many nights or injuries to key players, the Utah Jazz didn’t seem like themselves Wednesday night.
The Jazz played without star forwards Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Matt Harpring and fell to the Miami Heat 93-89.
Even with star point guard Deron Williams back from an ankle injury, the Jazz could not execute their offense the way they wanted. Williams finished with 13 points, five assists and six turnovers, while going 4-of-12 from the field.
“I am just confused right now,” Williams said. “I’m shooting when I am supposed to pass and passing when I am supposed to shoot. I just got to get my head back mentally.”
The Jazz played Tuesday night in Sacramento. However, head coach Jerry Sloan would not use that as an excuse for the loss.
“I am sorry we had to play last night, but if you’re not man enough to play two nights in two days or four games in five days, then you better get in more better shape,” Sloan said. “(The Heat) got hustle plays. They seemed to make all the hustle plays, and we didn’t have enough of those to come away with a win.”
Utah has only been out rebounded in six of their previous 19 games. Miami out-rebounded Utah by seven.
“You got to be realistic a little bit and fair,” Sloan said. “I don’t have my best team out there; some of these guys haven’t played a lot and they are trying to figure out what’s going on.”
Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, while shooting 7-of-13.
“I am just doing the best I can to help win the game, that’s my main focus right now,” Milsap said. “I don’t want the focus on me, I just want to get out there and play.”
The Jazz started the game strong, jumping out to a 17-7 lead. The Heat then went on a 21-10 run to take a one-point lead in the second quarter. The game stayed within five points for the rest of the quarter, and the Jazz went into halftime down by two.
Miami opened the third quarter with a 16-2 run, fueled by seven points from Dwyane Wade. Wade finished the night with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
“When a team like that gets on a run like that it is hard to stop them,” Millsap said. “It’s hard to get back in the game when that happens, especially with a good team.”
Utah made a late 4th quarter run by scoring the last seven points of the game, but Williams missed a 3-pointer that would have made it a one-point game. The Heat rebounded and ran out the clock.
“We just have to continue to work at it, see how we come back, not have too many ice pick wars in the locker room or out in the street, and we will be fine,” Sloan said.
–p.d.k@aggiemail.usu.edu
Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade drives to the hoop Wednesday night against the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Wade scored 23 points as the heat won, 93-89. (Patrick Oden)