Kirilenko helps Jazz to top Grizzlies
The Energy Solutions Arena lit up with energy when the crowd roared as Andrei Kirilenko was put into the game with four minutes left in the first quarter, marking his return since having ankle surgery and aiding the Utah Jazz in defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 117-99.
Kirilenko moved fluidly up and down the court in Tuesday night’s game, sinking in jump shots, swooping in lay-ups and pounding in dunks, accumulating a total of 14 points. He made five out of six field goal attempts and all four free throw attempts.
Initially Jerry Sloan, Utah Jazz coach, said Kirilenko was only going to get seven minutes of play time, but he got 17 minutes.
“I talked to [Gary Briggs, trainer for Utah Jazz,] most of the time to see if he thought I should take [Kirilenko] out, see how he’s doing,” Sloan said. “He was alive, he ran the floor well.”
This was Kirilenko’s first game after missing 11 games since undergoing surgery Jan. 20 to remove bone fragments in his right ankle. He said his ankle is feeling good and has no pain. The only pain he had was his chest because, he said, he hasn’t practiced or played for about 20 days.
“We got more than expected,” Deron Williams said of Kirilenko. “At practice he looked like he hadn’t missed any time at all. He played great tonight offensively and defensively. He was his energetic self as usual. He definitely added to our team.”
For the past five consecutive games, Williams has scored 30 points or more. Tonight, however, that streak ended with him scoring only 20 points. He also raked in 15 assists, five out of five free throws and one shot from behind the arch.
“I thought he had another terrific game,” Sloan said.
The Jazz pulled ahead early, ending the first quarter with a score of 33-25.
During the first three minutes of second quarter, the Jazz ran into a dry spell, allowing the Grizzlies to catch up. For the rest of the quarter the two teams stayed within a five-point reach of each other, ending the second quarter 56-56.
In the third quarter, the Jazz was able to regain traction and pulled ahead 88-80 at the end of the third quarter.
Kirilenko did a reverse lay-up in the fourth quarter, as if to tell everyone his ankle was as good as gold. In the next play he stole the ball, pulled ahead of the pack and slammed the ball through the hoop, giving him his 14th point.
Utah Jazz starter Mehmet Okur was absent from the game due to the flu. In his place was Jarron Collins who scored eight points.
“I got out there just trying to give my team a lift,” Collins said. “Trying to be active, get some offensive rebounds. You know, just go out there and provide energy.”
After winning against the Grizzlies, the Jazz are 31-23 for the season.
– mark.d.vuong@aggiemail.usu.edu