GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: UTAH (14-11) at ATLANTA (11-12)

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA UTAH 100
ATLANTA 108 3:03 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA UTAH 111
ATLANTA 114 0:14 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA UTAH 111
ATLANTA 116 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UTAH 31 22 33 25 111
ATLANTA 25 26 35 30 116 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: UTH - CARLOS BOOZER 39, RONNIE BREWER 19,
ANDREI KIRILENKO 16
ATL - JOE JOHNSON 26, MARVIN WILLIAMS 21, JOSH
SMITH 18</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
UTAH 111
ATLANTA 116 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
UTAH 111
ATLANTA 116 FINAL</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks finally figured out a wayto beat the Utah Jazz.


Joe Johnson scored 13 of his team-high 26 points in the fourthquarter and Anthony Johnson added 17 and dished 14 assists tolead the shorthanded Hawks to a 116-111 victory over thestruggling Utah Jazz on Monday.


Marvin Williams had 21 points, Josh Smith added 18 and rookie AlHorford recorded a season-high 17 for Atlanta, which snapped anine-game losing streak against Utah.


The Jazz wasted a magnificent performance from Carlos Boozer,who tallied a season-high 39 points and grabbed a team-high 12rebounds.


Anthony Johnson helped Atlanta break away with a 15-3 run infourth quarter. The diminutive point guard drained two3-pointers and dished a key assist to Horford to give Atlanta a110-100 lead with 2:10 remaining.


Horford, the third pick in the 2007 draft, capped the run byconnecting on 1-of-2 free throws to give Atlanta an 11-pointlead.


Utah whittled the lead down to 114-111 on C.J. Miles' 3-pointerwith 14.4 seconds remaining and gave the Hawks had a scarymoment when Ronnie Brewer stole an inbounds pass and found Milesin the right corner for a 3-pointer.


But the shot rimmed out, Atlanta grabbed the rebound and ZazaPachulia and Josh Smith connected one free throw apiece to sealthe win.


Entering this one, Atlanta had not had success against Utah,winning just twice in the season series in the past 10 years,and had not beaten the Jazz since October 31, 2002.

But Utah has been struggling on the road, losing five straightentering this one. Atlanta added to the Jazz's woes despitedressing just nine players and playing most of the first quarterwithout its lone 2006 All-Star, Joe Johnson, who picked twoearly fouls.


The Jazz started out strong, scoring 10 of the first 12 pointsbefore Atlanta answered right back with a 12-3 run to take a14-13 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter on AnthonyJohnson's driving layup.


Utah extended its advantage to 27-19 on Brewer's 17-foot jumperwith 2:16 remaining in the first, but the Hawks clawed back inthe second quarter, cutting Utah's lead to 53-51 at the break.

The young Hawks continue to set milestones that none of theircounterparts have since this side of the millennium.

Atlanta (12-12), league's youngest team with an average age of25 years and 193 days old, clawed back to the .500 mark with thevictory.


It is the latest in the season that the Hawks, the poster childfor futility over the past eight playoff barren years, have beenat or above .500 since the 1998-1999 club finished the seasonat 31-19.


Brewer scored 19 points and Andrei Kirilenko had 16 for Utah,which has lost seven of its last eight games.

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">UTAH (111) AT ATLANTA (116)

UTAH

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D WILLIAMS G 40:21 3-12 8-11 0 3 3 10 0 1 1 14
R BREWER G 39:03 9-11 1-2 4 0 4 3 4 4 1 19
C BOOZER F 42:16 15-24 9-14 4 8 12 2 6 2 2 39
A KIRILENKO F 40:15 5-11 6-8 3 2 5 4 5 0 5 16
J COLLINS C 28:15 1-4 4-5 0 3 3 2 5 2 1 6
P MILLSAP 16:44 3-6 1-2 2 0 2 1 5 0 0 7
C MILES 12:40 4-8 0-0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 10
J HART 7:52 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0
K FESENKO 8:14 0-3 0-0 3 0 3 0 2 0 2 0
G GIRICEK 4:07 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0
R PRICE 0:13 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 40-83 29-42 16 16 32 26 34 10 13 111
(.482) (.690) TEAM REBS: 15 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

ATLANTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A JOHNSON G 45:23 7-11 0-0 0 1 1 14 4 1 3 17
J JOHNSON G 35:49 8-17 9-11 0 3 3 5 4 1 3 26
J SMITH F 29:11 5-13 8-10 6 6 12 1 5 2 2 18
M WILLIAMS F 47:57 5-8 11-12 2 4 6 3 2 3 4 21
A HOFORD C 27:39 8-11 1-4 3 4 7 2 5 1 3 17
Z PACHULIA 24:53 2-2 4-8 0 5 5 0 5 1 4 8
S WILLIAMS 14:35 0-0 2-4 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 2
M WEST 14:30 3-4 1-1 2 0 2 0 4 1 1 7
S JONES 0:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 38-66 36-50 14 24 38 25 31 10 20 116
(.576) (.720) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 21 (0 PTS)

UTAH 31 22 33 25 - 111
ATLANTA 25 26 35 30 - 116

BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - A KIRILENKO, K FESENKO. ATLANTA - J SMITH 5,
S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 2-8 (.250), A KIRILENKO 0-3, C MILES 2-4, J HART 0-
1. ATLANTA 4-12 (.333), A JOHNSON 3-4, J JOHNSON 1-6, J SMITH 0-2.

TECHNICAL FOULS: UTAH - D WILLIAMS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, EDDIE F. RUSH, MARK WUNDERLICH.
A - 15,263. T - 2:34.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">UTAH (111)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Williams 40:21 3-12 8-11 0-3 10 0 14
R Brewer 39:03 9-11 1-2 4-4 3 4 19
C Boozer 42:16 15-24 9-14 4-12 2 6 39
A Kirilenko 40:15 5-11 6-8 3-5 4 5 16
J Collins 28:15 1-4 4-5 0-3 2 5 6
P Millsap 16:44 3-6 1-2 2-2 1 5 7
C Miles 12:40 4-8 0-0 0-0 3 3 10
J Hart 7:52 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 0
K Fesenko 8:14 0-3 0-0 3-3 0 2 0
G Giricek 4:07 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
R Price 0:13 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-83 29-42 16-32 26 34 111
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.482, FT-.690. 3-Point Goals:
2-8, .250 (A Kirilenko 0-3, C Miles 2-4, J
Hart 0-1). Team Rebounds: 15. Blocked Shots:2
(A Kirilenko, K Fesenko). Turnovers:13 (A
Kirilenko 5, C Boozer 2, K Fesenko 2, J
Collins, D Williams, G Giricek, R Brewer).
Steals: 10 (R Brewer 4, J Collins 2, C Boozer
2, D Williams, G Giricek).


ATLANTA (116)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 45:23 7-11 0-0 0-1 14 4 17
J Johnson 35:49 8-17 9-11 0-3 5 4 26
J Smith 29:11 5-13 8-10 6-12 1 5 18
M Williams 47:57 5-8 11-12 2-6 3 2 21
A Hoford 27:39 8-11 1-4 3-7 2 5 17
Z Pachulia 24:53 2-2 4-8 0-5 0 5 8
S Williams 14:35 0-0 2-4 1-2 0 2 2
M West 14:30 3-4 1-1 2-2 0 4 7
S Jones 0:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-66 36-50 14-38 25 31 116
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.576, FT-.720. 3-Point Goals:
4-12, .333 (A Johnson 3-4, J Johnson 1-6, J
Smith 0-2). Team Rebounds: 13. Blocked
Shots:6 (J Smith 5, S Williams). Turnovers:20
(Z Pachulia 4, M Williams 4, A Johnson 3, J
Johnson 3, A Hoford 3, J Smith 2, M West).
Steals: 10 (M Williams 3, J Smith 2, A
Johnson, J Johnson, A Hoford, Z Pachulia, M
West).

--------------------------------------------
UTAH 31 22 33 25 - 111
ATLANTA 25 26 35 30 - 116
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Utah - 1 (D Williams, 6:55
3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,263. T: 2:34.
Officials: Derek Richardson, Eddie F. Rush,
Mark Wunderlich.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">UTAH (111) AT ATLANTA (116)

UTAH

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

D WILLIAMS G 40:21 3-12 8-11 0 3 3 10 0 1 1 14
R BREWER G 39:03 9-11 1-2 4 0 4 3 4 4 1 19
C BOOZER F 42:16 15-24 9-14 4 8 12 2 6 2 2 39
A KIRILENKO F 40:15 5-11 6-8 3 2 5 4 5 0 5 16
J COLLINS C 28:15 1-4 4-5 0 3 3 2 5 2 1 6
P MILLSAP 16:44 3-6 1-2 2 0 2 1 5 0 0 7
C MILES 12:40 4-8 0-0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 10
J HART 7:52 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0
K FESENKO 8:14 0-3 0-0 3 0 3 0 3 0 2 0
G GIRICEK 4:07 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0
R PRICE 0:13 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 40-83 29-42 16 16 32 26 35 10 13 111
(.482) (.690) TEAM REBS: 15 TOTAL TO: 13 (18 PTS)

ATLANTA

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A JOHNSON G 45:23 7-11 0-0 0 1 1 14 4 1 3 17
J JOHNSON G 35:49 8-17 9-11 0 3 3 5 4 1 3 26
J SMITH F 29:11 5-13 8-10 6 6 12 1 5 2 2 18
M WILLIAMS F 47:57 5-8 11-12 2 4 6 3 2 3 4 21
A HOFORD C 27:39 8-11 1-4 3 4 7 2 5 1 3 17
Z PACHULIA 24:53 2-2 4-8 0 5 5 0 5 1 4 8
S WILLIAMS 14:35 0-0 2-4 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 2
M WEST 14:30 3-4 1-1 2 0 2 0 4 1 1 7
S JONES 0:03 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 38-66 36-50 14 24 38 25 31 10 20 116
(.576) (.720) TEAM REBS: 13 TOTAL TO: 21 (19 PTS)

UTAH 31 22 33 25 - 111
ATLANTA 25 26 35 30 - 116

BLOCKED SHOTS: UTAH - A KIRILENKO, K FESENKO. ATLANTA - J SMITH 5,
S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: UTAH 2-8 (.250), A KIRILENKO 0-3, C MILES 2-4, J HART 0-
1. ATLANTA 4-12 (.333), A JOHNSON 3-4, J JOHNSON 1-6, J SMITH 0-2.

TECHNICAL FOULS: UTAH - D WILLIAMS.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DEREK RICHARDSON, EDDIE F. RUSH, MARK WUNDERLICH.
A - 15,263. T - 2:34.</div>

 

NBA: UTAH at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">UTAH (111)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
D Williams 40:21 3-12 8-11 0-3 10 0 14
R Brewer 39:03 9-11 1-2 4-4 3 4 19
C Boozer 42:16 15-24 9-14 4-12 2 6 39
A Kirilenko 40:15 5-11 6-8 3-5 4 5 16
J Collins 28:15 1-4 4-5 0-3 2 5 6
P Millsap 16:44 3-6 1-2 2-2 1 5 7
C Miles 12:40 4-8 0-0 0-0 3 3 10
J Hart 7:52 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 0
K Fesenko 8:14 0-3 0-0 3-3 0 3 0
G Giricek 4:07 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
R Price 0:13 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-83 29-42 16-32 26 35 111
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.482, FT-.690. 3-Point Goals:
2-8, .250 (A Kirilenko 0-3, C Miles 2-4, J
Hart 0-1). Team Rebounds: 15. Blocked Shots:2
(A Kirilenko, K Fesenko). Turnovers:13 (A
Kirilenko 5, C Boozer 2, K Fesenko 2, J
Collins, D Williams, G Giricek, R Brewer).
Steals: 10 (R Brewer 4, J Collins 2, C Boozer
2, D Williams, G Giricek).


ATLANTA (116)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 45:23 7-11 0-0 0-1 14 4 17
J Johnson 35:49 8-17 9-11 0-3 5 4 26
J Smith 29:11 5-13 8-10 6-12 1 5 18
M Williams 47:57 5-8 11-12 2-6 3 2 21
A Hoford 27:39 8-11 1-4 3-7 2 5 17
Z Pachulia 24:53 2-2 4-8 0-5 0 5 8
S Williams 14:35 0-0 2-4 1-2 0 2 2
M West 14:30 3-4 1-1 2-2 0 4 7
S Jones 0:03 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 38-66 36-50 14-38 25 31 116
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.576, FT-.720. 3-Point Goals:
4-12, .333 (A Johnson 3-4, J Johnson 1-6, J
Smith 0-2). Team Rebounds: 13. Blocked
Shots:6 (J Smith 5, S Williams). Turnovers:20
(Z Pachulia 4, M Williams 4, A Johnson 3, J
Johnson 3, A Hoford 3, J Smith 2, M West).
Steals: 10 (M Williams 3, J Smith 2, A
Johnson, J Johnson, A Hoford, Z Pachulia, M
West).

--------------------------------------------
UTAH 31 22 33 25 - 111
ATLANTA 25 26 35 30 - 116
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Utah - 1 (D Williams, 6:55
3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 15,263. T: 2:34.
Officials: Derek Richardson, Eddie F. Rush,
Mark Wunderlich.</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Hawks finally figured out a wayto beat the Utah Jazz.


Joe Johnson scored 13 of his team-high 26 points in the fourthquarter and Anthony Johnson added 17 and dished 14 assists tolead the shorthanded Hawks to a 116-111 victory over thestruggling Utah Jazz on Monday.


Marvin Williams had 21 points, Josh Smith added 18 and rookie AlHorford recorded a season-high 17 for Atlanta, which snapped anine-game losing streak against Utah.


"I knew since I've been here, we haven't beaten them," Smithsaid. "We're just growing up and maturing."


The Jazz wasted a magnificent performance from Carlos Boozer,who tallied a season-high 39 points and grabbed a team-high 12rebounds.


Anthony Johnson helped Atlanta break away with a 15-3 run infourth quarter. The diminutive point guard drained two3-pointers and dished a key assist to Horford to give Atlanta a110-100 lead with 2:10 remaining.


"I didn't shoot well in the month of November," Anthony Johnsonsaid. "Now I'm starting to get in the gym and shooting the ballmore. Tonight they were dropping for me."


"He has been fantastic for us," said Hawks coach Mike Woodson ofJohnson. "He's a little gimpy with a hamstring pull, but he'splaying good. Tonight, I played him some 40-something minutes,which is a lot of minutes for him. But he responded big-time."

Horford, the third pick in the 2007 draft, capped the run byconnecting on 1-of-2 free throws to give Atlanta an 11-pointlead.


"I thought our guys came out tonight and played a solid48-minute ballgame," Woodson said. "It was back-and-forth, andthen we made the plays from the four- or five-minute mark on tosecure the win."


"Joe Johnson and Anthony Johnson hit some really big shots forthem down the stretch," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said."We had a couple of turnovers, and we didn't make our freethrows. You can't win games like that. We let them right backin the game and then they got control of the game."

Utah whittled the lead down to 114-111 on C.J. Miles' 3-pointerwith 14.4 seconds remaining and gave the Hawks had a scarymoment when Ronnie Brewer stole an inbounds pass and found Milesin the right corner for a 3-pointer.


But the shot rimmed out, Atlanta grabbed the rebound and ZazaPachulia and Josh Smith connected one free throw apiece to sealthe win.


"I was so mad, because every time I looked over, no time wentoff the clock," Marvin Williams said. "That two seconds was upthere forever. Thankfully, we were able to pull it off."

Entering this one, Atlanta had not had success against Utah,winning just twice in the season series in the past 10 years,and had not beaten the Jazz since October 31, 2002 - a streakthat many of the Hawks weren't even aware of.


"Really," Horford said. "I didn't know that. Wow. I'm 1-0against them. I feel pretty good."


"I really wasn't (aware)," Joe Johnson added. "I don't reallylook at a lot of stats that way. None of that really matters. Ijust go out and play hard."


But Utah has been struggling on the road, losing five straightentering this one. Atlanta added to the Jazz's woes despitedressing just nine players and playing most of the first quarterwithout its lone 2006 All-Star, Joe Johnson, who picked twoearly fouls. Smith also sat out most of the fourth quarterafter picking up his fifth foul.


"We've just been in a really bad funk," Boozer said. "For somereason, we're just a different team on the road. Give the Hawkscredit. They took it to us tonight."


The Jazz started out strong, scoring 10 of the first 12 pointsbefore Atlanta answered right back with a 12-3 run to take a14-13 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter on AnthonyJohnson's driving layup.


Utah extended its advantage to 27-19 on Brewer's 17-foot jumperwith 2:16 remaining in the first, but the Hawks clawed back inthe second quarter, cutting Utah's lead to 53-51 at the break.

The young Hawks continue to set milestones that none of theircounterparts have since this side of the millennium.

Atlanta (12-12), league's youngest team with an average age of25 years and 193 days old, clawed back to the .500 mark with thevictory.


"We had nowhere to go but up," Joe Johnson said. "It couldn'tget much worse. It's big. It shows the growth of our team andthe growth of a lot of people."


It is the latest in the season that the Hawks, the poster childfor futility over the past eight playoff barren years, have beenat or above .500 since the 1998-1999 club finished the seasonat 31-19.


That team was the last one to make the playoffs.


"If we end up playing .500 basketball, everything over that isicing on the cake," Woodson said. "If we play .500 basketball,we give ourselves a chance to make the playoffs in the East."

Brewer scored 19 points and Andrei Kirilenko had 16 for Utah,which has lost seven of its last eight games.