Jazz Return To Harmony
After an early season marked with discord, the Utah Jazz are playing sweet music once again.
“We’re starting to get back into a rhythm,” Karl Malone said. “It’s kind of amazing to me because just about a month ago, everybody wanted to abandon the ship and jump off … but we’re better now than we were at this time last year.”
With Monday’s 106-99 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah won its seventh straight game. That’s the longest winning streak of the season for a team that began the year 2-4.
“I like the progress we’re making,” coach Jerry Sloan said. “We’re doing the things we’ve always done, things we weren’t doing earlier this year.”
With a 24-11 record, the Jazz are actually a game ahead of the pace they set last year on the way to a franchise-best 64-18 record. Of course, that team went 41-6 to finish the regular season.
“I don’t know if (the same kind of finish) is possible this year, but I know now that we’re capable of it,” Sloan said.
The Jazz began the defense of their first Western Conference title awkwardly. All-Star point guard John Stockton missed the first 18 games of the season after knee surgery, and Sloan was forced to bench Bryon Russell and Greg Ostertag, two starters from last year’s team, because of poor starts.
“Bryon and Greg had some things to work out, but now that they did, I think they’ll be better than they were last year,” Malone said.
“That wasn’t me in the first part of the season,” Ostertag joked last week. “I was kidnapped by space aliens, and they did all kinds of crazy tests.”
Stockton has returned to form after missing exactly eight weeks. He’s averaging more than eight assists per game and has displayed a more consistent 3-point shot.
“I did a lot of shooting while I wasn’t able to play,” Stockton said. “I’m further along with my shot this season than I ever have been at this point in the year.’
Barkley to plead not guilty
In Orlando, Fla., Charles Barkley, accused of throwing a bar patron through a window, plans to plead not guilty today and ask for a jury trial.
Barkley, 34, was formally charged last month with battery, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and resisting an officer without violence for the Oct. 26 fight.
On the courts
David Robinson had 36 points and 11 rebounds and the visiting San Antonio Spurs pulled away in the last 3-1/2 minutes to beat the Boston Celtics 97-88 Tuesday night for their 14th win in 16 games.
In New York, Steve Smith put on a jump-shooting exhibition, scoring 35 points and making a running 10-footer with 2.6 seconds left to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the New York Knicks 91-89.
Derek Anderson scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including six in 63 seconds, as the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped their three-game losing streak with a 102-84 win over the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.
At Portland, Miami’s defense held Portland to its lowest point total ever, and the Heat used Jamal Mashburn’s 18 points to beat the Trail Blazers 76-68.
The Blazers made a franchise-low 22 field goals - in 68 attempts - only three more than the NBA record.
The Denver Nuggets lost their team-record 17th straight game as Horace Grant had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Orlando Magic in a 98-84 victory in Denver.