OAKLAND, Calif., April 13 (Ticker) -- John Stockton had plenty of veteran savvy against an all-rookie backcourt.

The 40-year-old Stockton scored 12 of his season-high 26 points in the final four minutes as the Utah Jazz moved into seventh place in the Western Conference with a 109-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State started rookies Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas in its backcourt and Arenas' three-point play gave the Warriors a 91-90 lead with just over four minutes left. Stockton responded with two free throws that put the Jazz ahead for good with 3:57 remaining.

NBA TV highlights from Jazz-Warriors: 56k | 300k Karl Malone helped power the Jazz past Warriors. Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images

Stockton nailed a pair of jumpers on trademark pick-and-rolls with Karl Malone as Utah established a 99-94 lead with 1:27 remaining. On the next possession, Stockton drew a foul on Arenas -- his sixth -- and made two free throws for a seven-point cushion.

"The sad part about it with John is people wait until after his career is over to realize he's a pretty good player," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "He doesn't dunk the ball or jump or talk a lot. You don't draw attention to yourself unless you do some of those things."

Utah and Seattle each sport 44-36 records, but the Jazz hold the seventh spot in the West by virtue of winning the season series against the Sonics. Utah is trying to avoid finishing in eighth, which would result in a meeting with the Sacramento Kings, who won all four meetings with the Jazz this season.

"I think it's very important," Sloan said. "It doesn't make any difference who we play once the playoffs start. I never liked the idea that you just accept where you are and you don't keep trying to climb."

Antawn Jamison scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Golden State, which has lost 23 of its last 24 meetings with Utah. Arenas, who was two years old when Stockton began his NBA career, had a solid game with 16 points and seven assists.

Stockton made 7-of-11 shots and converted all 12 foul shots. He had nine assists, four steals and did not commit a turnover.

"I tried to keep playing," Stockton said. "I had a lot of free throws. We'll take it however it came."

Led by the crafty Stockton, Utah used a sizable advantage at the foul line to gain control. The Jazz made 36-of-44 free throws while Golden State was 13-of-21.

"Stockton's cute," Golden State coach Brian Winters said. "He knows how to draw fouls and knows when you're in the penalty. They've been doing it for 17, 18 years."

Former Warrior Donyell Marshall finished with 18 points and nine rebounds while fellow reserve Scott Padgett added 15 and 11 for his second double-double. It all helped offset a sub-par outing from Malone, who made 4-of-14 shots for 12 points and eight rebounds.

Richardson scored 15 points and made three 3-pointers along with Arenas. Golden State made 10-of-18 shots from beyond the arc to stay close but the Warriors committed 21 turnovers in comparison to just 11 for Utah.

"The guy (Stockton) turns 40 and he's still one of the best guards in the league as far as setting players up and forcing things and getting his kind of shot," Jamison said. "They did what they had to do."

While Jamison did his part to keep Golden State in the contest, the rest of the frontcourt failed to hold its own. Danny Fortson and Adonal Foyle combined to make 4-of-14 shots for 12 points and reserve center Erick Dampier fouled out with one point and six turnovers.