| |
|
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:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES FROM TODAY’S OFFICIAL WEIGH-INS AND PRESS CONFERENCE FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S. DEBUT TOMORROW, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 , Sat, 29 Nov 2025Tagaytay Hosts 3rd Asian Chess Championship for Disabled 2025 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 29 Nov 2025WEIGHTS FROM PROBOXTV’S ‘THE CONTENDER SERIES’ AT SAVE MART CENTER IN FRESNO, SAT., NOVEMBER 29 , Sat, 29 Nov 2025BIRMINGHAM WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS BEN WHITTAKER PREPARES FOR MATCHROOM DEBUT , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Coach Marvin Somodio: Full of Life and Punch at 42 By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Boston Ends Detroit's Winning Streak at 12; Celtics Trip Pistons, 117-114 at the Garden By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 28 Nov 20257-Eleven Run 2026 set on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 28 Nov 2025Carlos Cañizales Forced to Cancel Flight to Thailand for WBC World Title Defense By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Boxing Champions Promotions to Present Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach with Inaugural “Centurion Awards” During Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event on November 29 , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Atif Oberlton Takes on Vaughn Alexander on Saturday, December 6th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Iligan tops in PEKAF Mindanao qualifying tourney By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 27 Nov 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2026 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th , Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Renowned Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Launches Private Boxing Camp in Las Vegas , Thu, 27 Nov 2025Eight Boxers Remain in WBC Grand Prix Finals On December 20 , Wed, 26 Nov 2025WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Petecio in, Paalam out By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Las Vegas & California Amateurs Shine in a Powerful Fall Rumble Weekend Followed by a Heartfelt Turkey Drive for Local Families , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Santa Run Davao on December 14 at NCCC Mall Victoria Plaza By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 26 Nov 2025Alec “The Rock” Del Rio Fights for WBC Asia Title Friday in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Eumir, Weljohn put pros on hold By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025Toronto Topples Cleveland, 110-99 for 8th Straight Win; Holds on to 2nd in the East By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025PPP Seniors & PWD Fun Run 2025 on Dec. 13 in Talomo By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 25 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|