Suns-Jazz Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Apr 23 2012 4:46PM

With two games remaining, the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns aren't sure if they're going to make the playoffs or head home early for the summer.

A Utah victory over visiting Phoenix on Tuesday night would answer that question for both teams, but an eighth consecutive loss by the Jazz in this series would give the Suns control of their postseason fate.

With a one-game lead over Phoenix (33-31) for eighth place in the Western Conference, Utah (34-30) is in position to clinch its first playoff appearance in two years with a fourth consecutive victory. The Jazz are in this spot thanks to a 6-3 stretch since a 107-105 home loss to the Suns on April 4.

"All season long we've been fighting," guard Gordon Hayward said Saturday after Utah rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit for a 117-107 overtime win over Orlando. "We needed this one badly."

Utah's playoff chances wouldn't end with a loss Tuesday, but falling to 0-3 against Phoenix this season would swing the momentum to the Suns' side.

If Phoenix wins Tuesday, it would lock up the eighth seed with either a victory over West-leading San Antonio on Wednesday or a Utah loss versus Portland the following night.

That scenario is far from a guarantee, as the Suns have split 10 games since their victory in Salt Lake City earlier this month.

Phoenix couldn't keep pace with the Jazz on Saturday, falling 118-107 at home to Denver.

"We got to go into Utah - tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team - and we got to win," guard Shannon Brown said after hitting a career-high six 3-pointers and scoring 28 points. "That's basically what it comes down to."

The Jazz have won four straight at home since the April 4 loss to improve to 23-8 at EnergySolutions Arena.

Utah, though, knows that if it's going to improve that mark, it will have to limit Steve Nash's opportunities to create offense.

The two-time MVP, who is averaging 12.5 points and 12.5 assists against the Jazz this season, hit two shots in the final 14 seconds April 4 to guide the Suns to their fourth consecutive victory in Utah.

"Steve Nash is going to do the same thing (as Magic point guard Jameer Nelson) and get his guys the ball," said Jazz forward Al Jefferson, the Western Conference player of the week. "But we just have to grind it out and play hard and get some hands up in his face."

It's uncertain if the Jazz will have to worry about Channing Frye after he suffered a subluxed right shoulder Saturday. Frye led the Suns with 26 points and nine rebounds in a 120-111 home win over Utah on March 14.

Phoenix, though, could have Grant Hill available after he missed the last four games with right knee inflammation.

Point guard Devin Harris leads the Jazz with averages of 23.7 points and 6.0 assists during their winning streak. Jefferson is scoring 20.0 points per game with 15.3 rebounds during the stretch, while Hayward is averaging 19.7 points.

Utah's last victory in this series was 116-108 in Phoenix on March 4, 2010.

Jazz beat Suns 100-88, secure playoff spot

By LYNN DeBRUIN
Posted Apr 25 2012 3:15AM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Al Jefferson got two stiches over his left eye and returned to the game. Nothing was going to keep him from getting the Utah Jazz into the playoffs.

When it mattered most, Jefferson came up huge, scoring eight straight points late in the fourth quarter to seal Utah's 100-88 victory over the Phoenix Suns, earn the Jazz the Western Conference's last playoff berth.

"It's good to make people eat their words," Jefferson said of doubters who thought Utah was too young and inexperienced to reach postseason. "That's what we did. Now it's time to go and shock the world."

Jefferson left the game with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter after suffering a gash over his left eye.

"You should have seen me back there rushing the doctors," Jefferson said.

He returned just as teammate Derrick Favors picked up his fourth foul. Then in the fourth, April's Western Conference player of the month took over.

The Suns trailed 85-80 when Jefferson dunked off a baseline move then hit an 18-footer to start his personal run. He finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds, accepted high fives from his teammates then raised his right index finger skyward and punched the air as the final buzzer ended.

"We contained Al for three quarters and then he started scoring all over the place," Phoenix center Marcin Gortat said. "He got hot."

Jefferson had put all the pressure on himself, calling Tuesday the biggest game of his career as he sought to get back to the playoffs for the first time since he was a rookie with Boston in 2005.

The victory halted Utah's seven-game losing streak to the Suns, dating to March 2010.

The Jazz can still move up to the No. 7 seed if they beat Portland on Thursday at home and Denver loses its final two games.

The Suns, meanwhile, will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Phoenix's regular-season finale at home against San Antonio on Wednesday could be Steve Nash's final game for the Suns. The two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star will become a free agent this summer and is seeking a three-year deal.

"Phoenix feels like my team," he said as he iced down and enjoyed a beer with Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek in the locker room. "It has the feel - and you don't always get it in professional sports - but it feels like a high school or college team. I spent so many years here and had so much success here. It's a special place for me, no question."

Nash finished with 14 points and 11 assists but also had five turnovers.

Jared Dudley and Michael Redd scored 15 apiece for Phoenix, and Hakim Warrick had 12 for the Suns, who were without 6-foot-11 forward Channing Frye because of a shoulder injury.

Forward Grant Hill tried to play after missing four games with a sore knee. But he started 0 for 3 and lasted only 3 minutes.

"Their bigs gave us a really hard time," Nash said. "Without Channing and Grant, it would have been just too much to ask."

It didn't help that the Jazz have a new Big 3. It used to be Karl Malone, John Stockton and coach Jerry Sloan.

Now it's a lineup that features Jefferson at center, moves Paul Millsap to small forward and inserts Favors, a second-year pro, at power forward. Tuesday night they combined for 57 points, 42 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

"On the offensive end, it creates a mismatch," said Millsap, who led Utah with 26 points and 15 rebounds. "On the defensive end you got me out there roaming, and got two shot-blockers down the middle. We got the best of both worlds."

The Jazz return to the playoffs after missing out last year in a season that saw Hall of Famer Sloan abruptly resign Feb. 10, 2011, and the team trade superstar point guard Deron Williams two weeks later.

They did it despite being two games under .500 after a March 14 loss at Phoenix, playing lineups jumbled by injuries and by giving their under-21 players plenty of playing time.

Utah also has played seven overtime games, including a double-overtime loss to Toronto, triple-overtime win over Dallas and quadruple-overtime loss in Atlanta. Seventeen other games have been decided by five points or fewer.

The Jazz go into the playoffs with seven of their 14 players age 26 or younger, including four who are 21 or younger - Gordon Hayward, Favors, Enes Kanter and Alec Burks.

Though young, they are on a roll. Tuesday's win was their fourth straight, much to the delight of the crowd, which rose to its feet and chanted "Playoffs, Playoffs" toward game's end.

Jefferson cracked up at the thought.

He's used to hearing chants for the No. 1 draft pick.

"Seven long years, seven long years since I've been in the playoffs," Jefferson said. "It's a great opportunity. A lot of people counted us out. It's a great group of guys and everyone on our team deserves it."

NOTES: The Jazz announced backup PG Earl Watson won't play again until next season after right knee surgery April 17. ... Jazz SG Raja Bell was active for the first time after missing 13 games with a knee injury but did not play. ... Favors' five blocks in the first half tied his career high. ... Hayward tied a career high with eight assists.

Notebook: Jazz 100, Suns 88

Posted Wednesday April 25, 2012 4:37AM

By Andrew Aragon, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Year one of the Utah Jazz's rebuilding project will close with a playoff berth.

The Jazz clinched the Western Conference's final playoff spot by beating the Phoenix Suns 100-88 on Tuesday night. Reaching the postseason wasn't supposed to happen this fast after Utah traded cornerstone Deron Williams to New Jersey and former coach Jerry Sloan resigned during a tumultuous season last year, but the franchise quickly regrouped.

Paul Millsap had 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Al Jefferson had 18 points and 16 rebounds and Derrick Favors contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz.

Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists in what may have been one of his final games in a Phoenix uniform.

QUOTABLE: "We battled through everything. Nobody expected us to be where we're at, but we're there now. We worked hard for it. Hopefully, we're going to make some noise."
-- Jazz forward Millsap on Utah reaching the playoffs

THE STAT: The Jazz's offensive rebounding was a killer for the Suns. Utah grabbed 14 offensive boards to keep possessions alive, score second-chance points and demoralize Phoenix when it seemingly had made stops. Favors had five of the offensive rebounds and Millsap had four.

TURNING POINT: All it took for the Jazz to finally pull away from the scrappy Suns was seeing Phoenix take a brief fourth quarter lead. After Phoenix went ahead 76-74, the Jazz held the Suns to just one basket in the next eight minutes. Utah retook momentum with a 3-pointer by Devin Harris, a dunk by Favors and a three-point play by Millsap. Jefferson scored on four straight possessions to put Utah ahead 93-80 with 2:17 remaining.

HOT: The Jazz's best play came on defense. Whether it was Favors tallying one of his career-high-tying five blocks or Gordon Hayward coming up with a timely steal, Utah rarely let Phoenix build momentum. Millsap made five of his first six shots and scored 11 points in the first quarter. Hayward tied a career-high with eight assists.

NOT: Phoenix center Marcin Gortat simply vanished in a game that could have put the Suns in the playoffs. He shot 1-for-6 in the first half, and all of his five misses were blocked by Favors. Gortat averaged 15.7 points prior to Tuesday, and only scored two points against Utah. The Jazz started the second quarter missing 12 of their first 13 shots, but were able to maintain a lead by playing great defense, drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. Phoenix shot 34.8 percent in the fourth quarter.

GOOD MOVE: Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin picked his spots in using his big lineup of Millsap at small forward, Favors at power forward and Jefferson at center. He put them on the court together with 9:59 remaining in the fourth quarter and it changed the complexion of the game on both ends. The Jazz, who trailed 76-75 at the time, then went on to allow two points in nearly six minutes. Millsap, Favors and Jefferson combined for 19 points and 18 rebounds in the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE II: "One of the things that these players in this locker room always thought about, and we gave it to them early, was that you have to believe in yourself. As long as we stayed together, we played hard and we played smart, anything can happen. We continued to learn from our mistakes early. We came into work every day. We had to work to get better."
--Jazz coach Corbin on his team sticking together during the compressed season

INSIDE THE ARENA: Portland Trail Blazers center Kurt Thomas was spotted in the crowd watching the game. Portland closes its season at Utah on Thursday night.

ROOKIE WATCH: The Suns needed a lift from Markieff Morris, but didn't get one. He had just six points and four rebounds in 24 minutes. He started in place of the injured Channing Frye. Jazz guard Alec Burks sparked the Jazz with eight points, but he also committed four fouls in less than two minutes to open the fourth quarter.

QUOTABLE III: "We didn't play great or deserve it tonight. We didn't shoot the ball well. We turned it over a little bit too much and their bigs gave us a real hard time. We didn't deserve it tonight."
-- Nash

NOTABLE: The Jazz snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Suns. Frye missed the game because of a subluxed right shoulder he suffered against Denver on Saturday. Grant Hill played less than three minutes because of a nagging knee injury.

UP NEXT: For the Suns, Wednesday vs. San Antonio. For the Jazz, Thursday vs. Portland.

• Suns: --
• Jazz: Miles, Watson

• Suns: --
• Jazz: --

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Officials: #22 Bill Spooner, #40 Leon Wood, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 19911
• Duration: 2:25