| |
|
NBA -- Jazz win five straight, stay ahead of Lakers
By Homer D. Sayson PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Apr 2013
CHICAGO -- As they continue to fight tooth and nail for the 8th and last playoffs spot in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz couldn't have picked a better time to put together their longest winning streak of the season.
On the strength of 6-foot-10, 289-pound center Al Jefferson's 24 points and 10 rebounds, the Jazz built a comfortable 87-73 advantage after three quarters and then coasted to a 112-102 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.
It was the Jazz's fifth consecutive victory, putting them at 39-36 and a half-game ahead of the 38-36 Los Angeles Lakers for the final playoffs berth in the talent-rich West. The Jazz also holds the tie-breaker over L.A., which means if both teams end the regular season with identical won-lost records, Utah advances to the postseason.
At 36-37, the Dallas Mavericks are also in the tight playoffs race, just 1 1/2 games behind the Lakers and two full games behind the Jazz. The Mavericks visit the Lakers tonight at the Staples Center in one of the most interesting showdowns of the gruelling 82-game schedule.
The Blazers were once in the thick of this race but after losing five in a row and now dropping to 33-41, their chances of getting past the Mavericks, Lakers and Jazz are extremely nil.
"We're just playing like we want to be in the playoffs and that's the difference. We just got to continue to play well. We got a long way to go," Jefferson told NBA.com after his team's well-earned win where Mo Williams finished with 20 and Derrick Favors chipped in 18 and seven rebounds.
Weslet Matthews led the Blazers with 23 points while rookie sensation Damian Lillard had 17 points, five assists and five rebounds. Portland played without leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge for the third consecutive outing. (Homer D. Sayson)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29 , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026 , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Unsung Heroes and the Value of Service By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Ronald, eldest son of boxing legend Tommy Hearns, will be his guardian and conservator By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Remembering Gilberto Mendoza in the 10th Anniversary of His Passing By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Air Force, Elite teams in Best of the Best Karate tourney By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Chavez brothers to return on April 25 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026ProBox & Teiken Announce Co-Promotional Deal with World-Ranked Bantamweight Contender Katsuma Akitsugi , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Team USA Earns Three More Wins on Day Four of World Boxing Futures Cup , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Casimero vs Nery for WBA Gold Super Bantamweight Title April 18 in Kyrgyzstan! By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026United States Completes Day Three of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup With Five Wins , Thu, 12 Mar 202683 Points! Bam Adebayo makes the second-highest score in NBA league history By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Renz Paolo Nool rules 5th Kenz Gambit Chess Tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026Benavidez-Ramirez presents his mega fight on "WBC Tuesday Coffe" in Mexico City By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 11 Mar 2026“The Cuban Assassin" Scores Devastating 1st Round Knockout to Remain Undefeated , Wed, 11 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Fighters Set to Shine on Matchroom Boxing Card March 21 in Orlando , Wed, 11 Mar 2026World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok Update By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 11 Mar 2026Full Card Taking Shape for ProBoxTV’s Martinez Vs. Aleem World Championship Event on Sat., March 21, from NOS Event Center in San Bernardino, CA , Wed, 11 Mar 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|