| |
|
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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 7 APRIL 2026: Santiago Retains WBA/WBO Titles in Tokyo; Taduran KOs Perez in 5; Price Decisions Aquino; Wins by Wilder, Bentley and Tim Tszyu By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Carlo Biado is the last Filipino standing in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-Ball World Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Unification next for Taduran? By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026BEN WHITTAKER REPLACES INJURED CALLUM SMITH AS THE NEW MAIN EVENT FOR LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18 – LIVE ON DAZN , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Filipino chess phenom triumphs at Krefelder Osteropen 2026 chess tournament in Germany By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026ProBoxTV Travels to Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, This Friday, April 10, as Hebert Conceicao Sousa Battles Power-Punching South American Johan Gonzalez in Middleweight Main Event , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Yokasta Valle vs Lourdes Juarez for WBC Female world championship? By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio ties for 10th in Canberra chess meet By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Canelo Expected to Return on September 15 in Riyadh By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Ring Masters Championships 2026 Finals April 10 at Madison Square Garden , Tue, 07 Apr 2026Jeffrey de Luna keep the Philippines alive in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-ball World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, USA By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 07 Apr 2026NOTHING BUT SPORTZ PRESENTS GAMBOA & RIGONDEAUX — MAY 2 IN MIAMI ONE NIGHT. SAME CARD. HAVANA HEAT , Mon, 06 Apr 2026Wilkens Mathieu Against Olympic Medallist Esquiva Falcao at the Théâtre Capitole of Quebec City on June 11! , Mon, 06 Apr 2026National Master Jasper Faeldonia rules Romblon chessfest By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 06 Apr 2026Twin wins for Pinoy boxers By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026NM Buto spearheads Goldland Chess Club By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Andreas Cortes vs Eridson Garcia Tops Paramount Plus Card By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Chris "Sandman" Thomas Back in the Win Column , Sun, 05 Apr 2026Taduran Stops Pérez in 7, and “Still” IBF 105 Champion By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026Pedro Taduran Scores Sensational Stoppage Over Gustavo PÉRez ÁLvarez in IBF Minimumweight World Championship Main Event , Sat, 04 Apr 2026BROWN STOPS DUCAR TO LAND FIRST PRO TITLES , Sat, 04 Apr 2026Guy Jutras, a gentleman and pilgrim of world boxing, passes away By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 04 Apr 2026TWO WORLD TITLE FIGHTS CONFIRMED FOR ‘GLORY IN GIZA’ UNDERCARD , Sat, 04 Apr 2026MANSOUR AND BALLO MAKE WAVES WITH UNPRECEDENTED OPEN WORKOUT ABOARD CITY CRUISES ADMIRAL HORNBLOWER AHEAD OF SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS , Sat, 04 Apr 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|