BOX SCORE
Wolves-Jazz Recap
NBA Postgame Quotes
Minnesota @ Utah
April 2, 2008 @ Energy
Solutions Arena
UTAH 117
Minnesota 100
Minnesota Coach Randy Wittman:
On the game...
“(I was) really concerned about getting off to a good start in the first quarter. This team plays so differently at home then they do on the road. They try to knock you out in the first five (or) six minutes of the first quarter. Going into halftime I was extremely happy with where we were at. I thought we competed again; we shot the ball well, we moved it the ball well. At the end of it, Okur broke it open. He made those threes. We turned the ball over a couple times, they got him in transition and they found him at the three-point line and he made them.”
On Jazz pulling away in the third quarter...
“We stopped playing, I thought, in that third quarter. That group that was out there put their heads down when Okur hit those threes… I thought we stopped playing for a period of three or four minutes after that onslaught.”
Minnesota Guard Marko Jaric:
On the game...
“We need to find a way to bounce back after a team’s made a run and they definitely made a strong run in the third quarter. Okur made three three’s in a row and definitely we gave up and if you want to become a better team in this league we can’t allow that to happen.”
On the outlook for the rest of the season...
“I know we are probably a little out of it but we’re trying to get as many wins as possible and work on chemistry as much as possible for the next season.”
Minnesota Center Al Jefferson:
On Okur’s three point shooting...
“It hurt. We went from down three to down by 12 in less than two minutes.”
On theTimberwolves’ body language...
“They hit like three three’s in a row and that was tough. We should have just kept playing and fighting but instead we kind of showed our emotion too much.”
Utah Coach Jerry Sloan:
On the difference between the first and second half...
“We got out and got after them a little bit. They probably got a little tired, but you still got to try to figure out some way to win the game. You can’t just let them shoot, they shot 50 percent in the first half and 30-something in the second half. That was the big difference. We got up and tried to guard them. I’ll give them the benefit because they were a little bit tired, but it doesn’t make a difference. You still got to get out and do the job, and I thought we did it a little bit more the right way. Then we were able to get in the open court for us and get a little better look for us.”
On the Timberwolves...
“I really like their team, the way they play. They’re a young team, the way they set screens, and they knock you around—they have you turning your head to see who’s going to hit you next. They’re a tough team to play against. They do a very good job, and they’ll be a very good team in a couple years if you give them a chance to get better, the way they play and the way they execute.”
Utah Guard Kyle Korver:
On the 27 three-point field goals over the last two games...
“We don’t have a single play for a three. We don’t have one. Guys have been shooting the ball well. We got some guys who are really good at penetrating and sucking (defenders) in. Guys have been hot. When they’re going in it’s a good thing, and coach doesn’t say anything. So we’ll try to keep on making them.”
On feeling like the playoff’s start Friday against the Spurs...
"Friday’s going to be a huge game. A huge, huge game. We have to come out and be ready to go. Hopefully we play like the second half tonight and like last game. Play with that sense of urgency. If we do that, I think we will be okay. The last six games are big, they’re tough. I think the playoffs really kind of do start on Friday.”
Utah Forward Carlos Boozer:
On the final six game stretch and how teams are battling for playoff position...
“It’s been like that since the All-Star break. Every game has meant so much. If you win one you move up a little bit. If you lose one you drop a little bit. The Western Conference has been packed like that. We’ve been playing those kinds of games for a while.”
On Mehmet Okur’s wide open threes...
“They (Timberwolves) packed the lane. They’re so worried about layups and dunks with me and D-Will. They give Memo shots and Memo is going to knock them down. That’s the great thing about him; he spreads the floor for us. It’s kind of like pick your poison.”
