Recap: Utah vs. Memphis
Sports Network | November 26, 2008
Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Paul Millsap scored 24 points and hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds, and each Utah starter reached double figures, as the Jazz notched a 117-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Mehmet Okur ended with 21 points and 10 boards for the Jazz, who have alternated wins and losses for the last five games. Ronnie Brewer poured in 21 points and five assists, while Deron Williams -- who played in his third game this season and first since November 12 because of an ankle sprain -- had 11 points and 15 helpers.
"He (Deron Williams) did a good job," Okur said. "He looked for us out there. He hit open shots for us. That's what we've been doing with him...He's such a leader. He tried to execute every play. He tried to create open shots for us. It's good to see him back tonight."
Rudy Gay had a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds for Memphis, which has lost four straight games and eight of its last nine overall. O.J. Mayo added 22 points and Marc Gasol gave 12 points and eight boards in defeat.
The Jazz silenced the Grizzlies in the first quarter for a 33-19 lead, and led 59-46 at the break.
Utah's lead hovered in the high-teens for most of the third stanza, and 10 straight points from the Jazz gave the home team a 95-71 lead heading into the final 12 minutes of play. C.J. Miles' dunk sparked the run and Brewer's layup closed it out.
Memphis used a 10-2 run to trim its deficit somewhat, getting within 97-81 early in the fourth quarter. Gay accounted for six of the points, and Darrell Arthur and Gasol also had a bucket each.
Two free throws from Ronnie Price and an Okur jumper gave the Jazz a 20-point lead, 101-81.
"I thought we competed pretty hard, it just got out of hand for us," said Mayo. "We have enough talent to compete in this league night-in and night-out. But for us to get down 20, you need to continue to play hard and compete hard, you never know what can happen in this league."
Moments later, Andrei Kirilenko's three and Millsap's dunk opened a 108-83 Utah lead with just under six minutes left, and the Jazz cruised to the finish from there.
Kirilenko had 17 points and Miles 13...Utah is a gaudy 34-2 in Salt Lake City since December 31, 2007...Carlos Boozer (quad), Kyle Korver (wrist) and Brevin Knight (finger) didn't play for the Jazz...Memphis is 1-7 on the road this season...Utah has won seven straight and eight of its last nine meetings versus Memphis. The Grizzlies are just 6-20 all-time in Salt Lake City.
