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Show Saturday, May 17. 2008 a DAILY HERALD 2008 NBA PLAYOFFS Wild Jazz comeback falls short at the end of Game 6 I; f the span of I " seconds 15 WOMUl.WW LA. went up Irairfoet to start the 22-1- in tne NBA, the likely recipient of future lawsuits for hearing loss, went from painfully loud, to quietly subdued. Two chances for the record books. A missed from Mehmet Okur and a missed from Deron Williams in the closing seconds of the game helped the LA. Lakers hold off a furious Jazz rally and beat Utah to close out the best of seven series with a 2 win on Friday night. After Utah Jazz fans booed the Lakers one final time, they quietly filed out of the Energy Solutions Arena for the last time this seasoa It went from fireworks and cheers that were so loud many fans cover their ears or plug in their ear plugs, to the silence of a college testing center. So this is what the end of the season sounds like. How do you go from one extreme to the other? Shoot 30 percent in the first quarter and just 33 percent in the first half. Basically, take a break, before charging back to come within a pair, of shots in the 33-2- 0 A, ' Neil K. Warner On the Utah Jazz 108-10- -- 7-- 0 game. They led eight minutes into the game and by the end of the quarter enjoyed lead. a Even when Kobe Bryant rested, the Jazz couldnt make much of a dent in the Laker lead. Bryant went to the bench lead. When he with a returned four minutes later, the Lakers led by 11. Andrei Kirilenko missed a dunk. The Lakers took the ball and gave it to Bryant for a dunk. C.J. Miles missed a on one end and Derek Fisher made a on the other end. It seemed to be the theme of the night. Carlos Boozer had a basket taken away on a charging call with seven seconds left in the half and Fisher was fouled with .9 seconds left in the half. He made all three free throws to give the Lakers a -- 4-- final 10 seconds of completing the greatest Jazz comeback in playoff history. "We gave up too many points in the paint early. They or somegot out early 20-1thing like that. We did a good job in the second half to try and get it back down but they made their free throws," said Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, "I can't believe it's over. It's still very tough to take right now." Jazz forward Paul Millsap said, "We fought back with everything we had put it all out on the line. I was just disappointed that we started so late to start (the comeback)." The Lakers figured out how to win in Utah. Get up early and neutralize the home court. commanding 6243 lead at intermission. In the third quarter, Bryant tried to get the ball inside to Pau GasoL but it was knocked away. Bryant picked it up in the key and hit Sasha Vujacic in the corner for a to lead. give the Lakers a Utah did managed to wake up the crowd with one final push in the" fourth quarter when Williams scored on a reverse layup and a Boozer steal led to a Paul Millsap dunk that cut the lead to 9 with 6:22 left but Boozer fouled out trying to get one of his missed shots and Bryant hit a followed by a play. He banked in a and was fouled he added the free throw to ' give the Lakers a 8 lead with four minutes left that appeared to finish off the 77-6- 1 the second round of the scoreboard 1TOA schedule NBA QUMtTEDHMLt EASTBW play- OMKRtHCt tmo 4, OnaMs 1 May 3 Cwrori 91 Ocwdo 72 Monday May 5 DetrOt 100 QrBrtJO 93 Devon 86 May 7: Orlando mfeonesaay Saturday May 10 Detroit 90, Onando 89 Tuesday May 13, Detroit 91, Onanoo 86 offs, home teams had a nearly unbeatable 21-- 1 record. But to complete a comeback against Lakers, everything would have to go right for Utah and that didn't happen. Utah's hot streak from the line finally ended in Sunday defeat. ted Busies vs. CkmtaHd 6 Bosun 76. Cleveland 72 May 8 Boson 89. Cleveland 73 Saturday May 10 Cleveland 106. Bosun 84 May Tuesday. Tnursoay Monday May 12 Cleveland 88. Boston 77 May 14 Boston 96. Cleveland 89 Wednesday. Friday. May 16: Cleveland 74. Boston 69. series 3 Sunday, Now Jazz fans are left wondering what's next? Their title chase has been road blocked by another NBA superstar. It just so happened that the two best teams in Jazz history (1997 and 1998) met up with the greatest player in Jazz. NBA history in Michael Joi dan But then the strangest thing and what could be considered to be one of the five best happened. Kirilenko got hot from the line. Oljur teams in Jazz history has been heated up. The Jazz played stopped by Bryant, who could with a sense of urgency. challenge Jordan for the title of The Jazz figured out they greatest ever. can play with the Lakers. Just While Jazz fans watch the like Utah did in Los Angeles Lakers move on and likely on Wednesday. The Jazz and win an NBA title, they can Lakers were tied with less than watch the playoffs and wonder three minutes to play, before was the stunning Utah Jazz the Lakers pulled away for a comeback a good thing? 4 win. Will is this season be reThere was no reason to membered as a think Utah couldn't come back comeback that would have and win game 6, after all, there been talked about for years, was a reason Utah has the best or how poorly the team played home record in the NBA and in for three quarters? New Orleans es. San Antonio 82 Saturday, May 3: New Orleans 101, San Antor Monday, May 5: New Orleans 102, San Antonio 84 10, New Orleans 99 Thursday, May 8: San Antonio San Mono 100, New Orleans 80 Sunday. May Tuesday. May 13. New Orleans 101, San Amonn 79 Thursday. May 15, San Antonio 99, New Orleans 80. series tied Monday, May 19, San Antonio at New Orleans, 8 Or8:30p.m, Friday's boxes LAKERS (108) Rarjmanovic 17, Fisher 34, Walton 111-10- 12, Odom 16, Bryant 3, Farmar Totals 5 Turiaf UTAH (105) Kinlenko Continued from CI Sloan added: "I'd rather let them take care of that than think they have to be here. Because if they don't, they aren't going to be here, when they're here. "I learned my lesson years ago. A player I had wanted to go home, he had a teammate who he played ball with that was very sick. I thought it was more important for him to he stay. I watched him play should've gone home. "That's why I don't have a ' what Karl (Malone) did, John Stockton did. They make the turn." For the record, Sloan thought Boozer was someone who could "make the turn." 12, Otwr 21, 7, Millsap 2, Miles 33 29 Utah 20 23. 27 91-8- 20-1- and got two needed a off, but missed both and the buzzer sounded. Fisher, who played in Utah last season, and Williams hugged after the horn and the Utah fans cheered the Jazz loudly as they left the floor for the final time. 2-- 5-- last-gas- 103-10- pick-and-ro- ll 107-10- 91-8- I Cavaliers 74, Celtics 69: At Cleveland, the Cleveland Cava- liers packed for a weekend stay in Beantown not a few weeks on Cape Cod. They've got at least one more NBA, it's as big as they ever get. Game 7. On Sunday. In Boston." LeBron James scored 32 19 in the second half points and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-swehome playoff game left, and in the series with a victory over the Celtics, who have gone from regular-seaso- n road kings to postseason road kill. James, whose jump shot has mysteriously been missing in this series, made two key baskets midway through the fourth quarter to slow a Boston comeback, Wally hit a with 2:10 remaining and Joe Smith Kevin Garnett scored 25 points, Paul Pierce 16 and Ray Allen just nine on 3of-shooting. The Celtics got just two points from guard Rajon Rondo, who scored 20 in their Game 5 win. Boston's point total was the second lowest in franchise playoff history and the fewest points ever given up by Cleveland in the postseason. James added 12 rebounds, Delonte West had 10 points , and Smith came off the bench to add nine, none bigger than his two free throws that closed out the Celtics. 8 105 Walton 2, Bryant Kirilenko Williams Miles Fouled LA. Lakers 43 (Gasol James 32, Wallace - 11 7,West4-9, Varejao 4, Smith 0. Totals 3. Da. Jones Boston Cleveland 18 18 Goals Garnett 0 17 17 15 24 Boston 0. Iloauskas 9, Pavtovic 21 25 74. 19 15 89 74 Pierce (House RAIIen Cleveland Posey Pavlov James Da Jones Fouled Out None. Rebounds Boston 43 (Gamett 8), Cleveland Boston 19 (Rondo 5), 53 James 12). Assists Cleveland 10 (James 6) Total Fouls Boston Cleveland 16. Technicals Boston defensive 25, three second, Cleveland defensive three second. (West Szczerbiak A 20,562 (20,562). Playoff Leaders Bryant, LAL McGrady, Hou. Nowitzkl, Dall. . James, Clev. Paul. NO. Iverson, Den. Parker, SA. Bosh, Tor, Phoe. Stoudemire, Anthony, Den. Williams, Utah Hamilton, Det. 0-- 7-- 0 108 CLEVELAND (74) e dropped two free throws with 14 seconds left as the Cavs moved the series back to the East Coast. The Cavs are attempting to become the 14th team to overcome an 2 deficit and win a series, and to do so, the defending Eastern Conference champions will have to win in Boston, where the Celtics are in the postseason and play like a team with title potential. On the road, they're just ordinary. The Celtics are 15--2 in Game 7s at home, but the Cavaliers may have some confidence playing on the parquet after nearly winning Games 1 and 5. 22 35 CAVALIERS 74. CELTICS 69 6 the Lakers turned it over again from the perimeter and getting when Boozer stepped in front inside the lane for points in the of Gasol to deflect a pass and Continued from CI start another break for Utah, fourth, but Bryant kept the Lakers from blowing the lead which Millsap finished with anholding off Utah's rally. other dunk to make it It Bryant also had eight reby scoring 12 in the period. bounds and six assists. Pau was the first time the lead was Bryant's back seized up Gasol added 17 points and 13 on him early in Game 4 here, single digits since the Lakers rebounds for the Lakers, who when the Jazz tied the series led 2 with two After a timeout by the Lakget to sit back and wait for the straight home winner of the San Antonio-Newins. Bryant's back was better ers, Bryant was called for an Orleans series, which will when the Lakers won Game 5 offensive foul for an elbow to be decided with a Game 7 on at home, and on Friday he was Matt Harpring. Harpring drew another foul on Bryant at the Monday. showing his MVP form again. Williams led Utah with 21 from the other end and made both free Bryant went floor and made 15 of 17 free throws to get Utah within 9336, points and 14 assists. Carlos Boozer had 12 points throws. but Bryant answered with a and 14 rebounds, and Okur The Lakers took 13 more foul to put the Lakers back had 16 points and 10 boards, shots than the Jazz, getting sent up by 10 and slow Utah's run. in the to the line repeatedly as the Jazz The Lakers led 101-9- 1 with hitting two tried to make up the deficit. fourth quarter during Utah's about two minutes left when comeback. The Jazz were f p the Jazz made their They finished or-- 8 from Gasol and Lamar Odom shut push. Okur hit two beyond the arc in down the lane as the Lakers the final period, but could not then Andrei Kirilenko hit an0 other to cut the lead to quite overcome the huge lead pulled ahead and rattled the Jazz as they had in the first the Lakers had built through after Millsap blocked a layup the first three quarters. two games of the series in Los by Bryant. Odom hit two free Los Angeles stoppedJJtah's Angeles. Gasol blocked four throws, followed by another shots and Odom blocked one and just about 3 by Kirilenko, then Bryant and had nine rebounds. hit two more from the line to everything else the Jazz tried inside until the fourth. The Jazz 3 Reserve Paul Millsap added make it with 15.5 secstarted hurrying outside shots, 15 points for Utah and led the onds left. which weren't going in and the Jazz on a 14-- 5 run early in the The Jazz went for a quick rebounds seemed to always fourth quarter that set up the two points and scored on a bounce Gasol's way. Nine of frantic finish. dunk by Williams, then got a his 11 rebounds in the first half Williams made a reverse break when Derek Fisher went were defensive. then from the line. Utah just layup to cut it to 15. Korver 2. Totals 0 (Radmanovlc 15 Through May Scoring Utah finally started hitting 5 24 LA (Okur Pnce NBA Game 6 Brewer LA Lakers Lakers Fisher 7 Vujacic 31 38 108. BOSTON (69) Pierce 4 16, Gamett 25, Perkins -4 3 5, Hondo 2, RAIten 9, P.Brown 0, Posey 0, Davis 8. Totals 4, House 69. I Can I rephrase that?: Lakers coach Phil Jackson, during a pre-gam- 0, Boozer Rebounds LA. Lakers 19 13), Utah 62 IBoozer 14). Assists LA (Bryant 6), Utah 22 (Williams 14). Total Fouls Lakers 24, Utah 26. A 19,911 (19,911). media session, said: "That's how you learn and "We just anticipate we will become a better player," he have to play under control and said. "They take something have to execute, especially in a away from you, you've got foreign land like this." to find something else. That's Was that a crack at Utah? what great players do, wheth- The culture? Perhaps sensing er you double team them or the words would be twisted, he followed up immediately with, zone, or whatever you do. Someone has to step up...that's "a foreign building." up- - 13, Gasol 12, Boozer Wilkams 13, Harpnng 5. Price 7 105. Out new level seconds before Trailing 5943 he nailed an inside shot. But he was called for his second foul, a charge. Sloan believes the struggles though Boozer had eight points and as many rebounds at halftime in a deficit are all a part of growing 105 LAKERS 108, JAZZ IA Vuiacic - 2), Utah - 8, Korver Jazz p.m. n. 99-8- half-tim- e. 3 30 Boston, WESTERN CONFERENCE Utah LA Lakani Sunday, May 4: LA Lakers 109. Utah 98 7: Lakers 120. Utati 110 LA May Wednesday Friday. May 9: Utati 104 LA Lakers 99 11: Utah LA Lakers 115, OT 123, Sunday May 11 Utati 104 Wednesday. May 14 LA Lakers Friday. May 16 LA Lakers 108. Utah 105, LA Lakers mi series 6osls Boozer hasn't been hitting problem with people going and taking care of whatever it is. I his outside jumpshot effechave no problem with it at all." tively and Sloan points out that when he's gotten the ball, extra I Time to step up: Jazz fans are defense has blanketed him pleading with Carlos Boozer to quickly. "We have to do a better job get his game back to average. He's been below it, at least of trying to get spacing for on the offensive end, for the him, so he can find somebody course of 11 games in the playto throw it to," Sloan said. offs (six games with Houston, "He shoots the ball pretty the first five against the Lakwell at the top (of the key), and if those don't go for him ers).,. ;,.';,' that puts everyone in a little Averaging 21.1 points and 10.4 rebounds for the season, bit of a trick box at times. But he's at 16.4 and 12.1 in the post- if he makes a couple of those season. Shooting 54.7 percent his game is expanded pretty from the field for the year, he's well." Boozer's frustrations hit a firing 42.5 now. it Demand May 18: . West, NO, Garnett, Bos. Gasol, LAL J. Johnson, Ad. 9 6 5 11 11 4 11 5 11 11 11 12 9 SA 7 11 Lewis, Chi. Ginobili, SA 10 11 01. 10 Duncan. Howard, FG Utah Howard, Orl. Duncan, SA 60 23 ' 53 19 24 50 54 45 39 39 30 40 87 71 32 43 45 73 72 AV6 33.2 27.0 26.8 26.3 271 24,6 98 24.5 267 24.3 24.0 116 23.2 90 22 5 238 21.8 236 21,5 234 21.3 246 20:5 183 20.3 140 20.0 215 19.5 195 19.5 214 19.5 189 18.9 93 33 42 95 62 43 90 103 36 104 42 48 32 81 89 94 103 72 47 Percentage Haywood. Wash. Gasol, LAL Kapono, Tor. Howard, Oil. Bell. Phoe. Prince, Det. Diaw, Phoe. Klelza, Den. Smith, Den. Brewer, PTS 299 162 134 289 FT FG - FG 26 72 31 72 21 77 35 22 23 46 FGA PCT 44 122 53 124 37 137 64 .591 .590 .585 .581 .568 41 .562 .547 .537 43 87 .535 .529 OEF TOT AVG 98 158 146 63 133 72 60 131 98 73 108 117 15.8 13.3 13.3 Rebounds Nowitzki, Dall. Okur, Utah G OFF 60 44 11 39 6 19 5 10 31 11 Odom, LAL Hortord.AtJ. Chandler, N.0. Garnett, Bos. 11 12 . Camtry.Oen. Boozer, Utah Jamison, Wash. 10 11 4 11 102 42 94 53 50 100 24 22 41 33 9 7 74 51 67 84 12.1 12.0 12.0 11.9 10.9 0.4 9.8 9.8 Assists G Paul, N O. Williams, Utah James, Clev. Hash, Phoe. Calderon, Tor. 11 11 Bryant, LAL McGrady, Hou. Kidd. Dall. Rondo, Bos. Ford, Tor. 9 6 11 5 5 AST AVG 121 11.0 9.6 7.9 106 87 39 35 62 5 12 5 7.8 7.0 6.9 4f 68 34 80 33 6.7 6.6 6.8 MLB ROUNDUP Werth a lot: Phillies slugger hits three homers in rout of Blue Jays THE ASSOCIATED Missing PRESS sometfiinrj? - PHILADELPHIA Jayson Werth homered in his first three at bats and tied a Philadelphia Phillies record with eight RBI in a 10-- 3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday Yankees-Met- 3-- The eight RBI tied a franchise record held by four players, most recently accomplished by Mike Schmidt in a game at Chicago on April 17, 1976. I Rays 3, Cardinal! 1: At St. Louis, Andy Sonnanstine car ried a shutout into the eighth Inning and added two singles outburst that helped to a Tampa Bay win for the eighth time in nine games. 12-h- it I Rangers 16, Aitroi 8: At Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton i s, Angels-Dodge- and Astros-Ran- m1 V night. Werth had a chance to tie the major league record of four homers in a game in the seventh inning, but he fouled out to first base on a 2 pitch off Brian Tallet. The homers and eight RBI were career highs. Werth became the 18th Phillies player to record three homers in a game. Ryan Howard was the last to hit three on Sept. 3, 2006. A TV.. J g ers. Find all the interleague boxes as well as the MLB standings on C5. I Twins 4, Rockies 2: At Denver, Nick Blackburn pitched seven strong innings and Delmon Young doubled twice and scored two runs before Joe Nathan remained perfect in 13 save opportunities. i H. RUMPH JR. Associated Press left Philadelphia Phillies' Jayson Werth runs the bases after he hit a three-ru- n home run in the second inning; Werth runs thelbases after he hit a grand slam in the third inning; Werth hits a solo home run in the fifth innnjng against the Blue Jays on Friday. From went with two homers and five RBI, and Ian Kinsler scored the run in the seventh inning. go-ahe- I Angels 4, Dodgers 2: At Saunders (7-- held the on AnDodgers to two runs dre Ethier's two-ru- n homer in in 74t innings. the seventh The gave up five hits, walked two and had one strikeout. Anaheim, Calif., Joe Saunders bounced back from his lone loss of the year and Vladimir I White Sox 2, Giants 0: At San Guerrero drove in two runs Francisco, Alexei Ramirez hit without a hit to help the Angels his first major league homer, a two-ruwin. shot In the seventh in n ning that proved the difference for Chicago. I Padres 6, Mariners 4: At Seattle, Brian Giles had four hits and Tadahito Iguchi homered for San Diego. Chris Young (4-3- ) won for the third time in his last four starts, overcoming his own early struggles and pitching six solid innings. I Royals 7, Marlins 6: At Mi ami, Brett Tomko pitched six innings for his first victory in nearly six weeks, and two unearned runs helped Kansas City extend its winning streak to five games. Joakim Soria allowed a run for the first time this season when he gave up a two-ru- n homer to Jeremy Hermida. Soria then struck out Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu for his 1 1th save, I Diamondbacks 4, Tigers 3: At Plwx'nix, Eric Byrnes homered and had two RBI as Arizona won its fourth straight. I Reds 4, Indians 3: At Cincin- nati, Adam Dunn homered and drew a tiebreaking walk with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, sending Cincinnati to its season-higfourth straight win. h I Orioles 5, Nationals 3: At Baltimore, Luke Scott homered, Melvin Mora hit a tiebreaking double in the fifth inning and the Orioles won for the sixth time in seven games. I Braves 3, Athletics 2: At At- lanta, Mark Kotsay knocked in the run in the eighth RBI douinning with a two-ou- t ble, and Atlanta won its eighth straight at home. National League tubs 7, Pirates 4: At Chicago, Alfonso Soriano homered in his first two Geo v any Soto and Mark DeRosa went deep and the Cubs won for the seventh time in eight games. Soriano connected on the first pitch from Tom Gorzelan-n- y for his third leadoff home run in four games. Soriano launched a three-ru- n shot in the second inning that rtuule it 6-- ." |