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Show Sunday, May 12, 1996 The Dally Herald ‘Must win?’ Jazz say Game5 is SART LAKE CITY— Utah's dominating performance Saturday gives the Jazz a solid 2-1 edge in their best-of-seven series with San Antonio— buthistory suggests the outcome of Game 4 today will carry more weight in which team eventually advances. The Jazz have the opportunity today to put a 3-1 stranglehold on the Spurs— a near-impossible deficit to overcome in playoff basketball. A San Antonio win and 22 series, however, would offer a tremendouspsychological momentum swing to the Boug Fox Exec. Sports Editor Spurs. “There's definitely a world ofdifference being up 3-1 instead of 22,” said‘Utah's Karl Malone. The Jazz were in this position once before as the Jower-seeded team in a seven-game series. In 1988, Utah stole Game 2 in Los Angeles against the Lakers, then came back to Salt Lake City and won the third game. With a chance to deliver a 3-1 blow to the defending champions, Utah faltered in Game 4 and the homecourt advantage held true the remainderofthe series as the Lakers advanced in seven games— eventually winning the championship. Jazz president Frank Layden remembers thatseries. He was coaching at the time, “There's no ci ison between thee. two [Jazz] teams,” said Layi, “This team is so muchbetter th we were and the otherthing is the thag a tuch better coached now they were.” knows what might have hap- had.the Jazz defeated the faker in that fourth game. While ‘one opportunity has passed, another awaits in the form of igday's contest “e2 winning [Saturday] we put a Jot of pressure on them,” said Layden ofthe Spurs. “I think tomorrow's gameis more important than today’s was. Without a doubt, two and four are your pivotal games. We've got the homecourt advantage now and we want to keep it.” With so muchriding on the outcome, today’s game will mostlikely feature all-out physical warfare. That was almost guaranteed in the postgame interview room when San Antbnio coach Bob Hill made the Jazz sound like schoolyard bullies tyingto steal his players’ lunch money “They told us whatthey were goidg to doin the papers,” said Hilf of Utah’s aggressive dominatort, “They called our bluff and put it in the paper. Then they did it and we didn’t respond. That's what thisigame was about. It wasn't about Xs and Os. It wasn't abobt pick-and-roll defense or anyfhing else. It was about being phygical and responding and goigg back at ‘emand we didn't respond atall. Andif this is what happened twoyears agoin the playoffs here then I understand it But if we don’t plant our feet and get back at ‘em and get a technical if you have to get a technical and knock somebody down if you have to knock somebody down; then weare going to keep getting knocked down and we are going to lose. “We wantto fight and get a little dirty tomorrow, like this really means something.” Sofar in this serics, the Jazz's two wins have been of the blowout variety, with an average victory margin of an incredible 25 points per game. But the Spurs could win by one point today and the series would be even— and don’ a nivg that. “Tomnorrdw is huge.” said Spurs guatd Avery Johnson. “{A split) is not What we really wanted to —< ish, but it’s like anything: ‘ow Strive for the top and if you =makeit, you settle for what's “Metab Bo’ dls joa row,” said Hill. “If we win tomorrow,the homecourt in this series goes back to San Antonio. Had we lost by one, we're going back with the same scenario. Maybe this tum out to be better ‘We'll see.” Malone explosion key to Jazz victory By ANTON GARI gave them some competition. Mal- Special to The alytet Herald one was phenominal. He delivered SALT LAKE CITY — Karl today. He made every shot and came out real aggressive. He did Malone played like a man on a mission as the Utah Jazz blasted oe they asked him to do the San Antonio Spurs 105-75 in Malone led the way with an inspired 32-point, 11-rebound per- ui tah outrebounded the Spurs 40-34 and had £5 moreassists. The one Jazz player whois still having his difficulnes is John Stockton. aggresive playin the first quarter and seven assists. “I thought he (Malone) gotoff to a great start which was really keyfor us,” said Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan. “He was able to get inside immediately. Once he wasable to games, the Jazz seemed to come out with a vengeance. San Antonio had a 64-13 advantage from the free throw line in the first two the Delta Center Saturday after- noon. formance. He set the tone with that resulted in 16 points. you've got to pin your ears back,” said Malone. 3-1 br 2-2? That is the question. After struggling to get to the free throw line in the first two start breaking people downinside, games. The Spurs had a 24-14 theyhave to start worrying about edge in game three, but Utah realboth places he’s going to be on the ly proved to be the more aggres- floor.” The Jazz outshot the Spurs 5340 percentfromthefield. Jeff Hornacek added 17 points while Howard Eisley had a great game coming off the bench for John Stockton. Eisley was 6-for-6 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line for 14 points, He also had four assists in 24 minutes ofplay. Chris Morris also got his game going early. He was 2-for-3 from 3-point range and finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Bryon Russell continued to be hot from long range. He is now I1-for-17 in 3point attempts in the playoffs this year. Saturday he was 2-for-2 from downtown. “{Utah] set the pace in the first quarter, and wedidn’t respond. We didn’t fight back and the game was overright there,” said San Antonio Coach BobHill. “They cameright at our backsides and I don’t know why we wouldn't respond. The bottom line was they wanted to win the game more than us.” Sean Elliott led the Spurs with 17 points. Vinny Del Negro and David Robinson added 15 and !1 points respectively. No other San Antonio player scored in double figures. “We're not doing much of any- sive team. Malone, who failed to get to the line once in game two and who has been accused of living too much on the perimeter, seemed to come out intent on tak- ing the ball to the hole and getting the homecourt calls. A 14-3 run midway throughthe first period gave the Jazz a 24-15 advantage and forced San Antonio to take a timeout. Malone's follow-up layup for his 10th point made a huge statement. He finished the stanza with four rebounds and three assists to go with his 16 points to propel Utah to a 32-20lead. Adam Keefe took Robinson to the hole early in the second quar- ter. Hill was livid, complaining it was an offensive foul. He received a technical foul when he came ontothe court to complain. Stockton converted the free throw to put the Jazz up by 14. But the Spurs slowly got back in the game. Back-to-back buckets by Robinson with less than two minutes to goin the half cut Utah's lead to 48-42. But, Malone scored the final three points of the half to give the Jazz a 5i-42 halftime advantage. San Antonio power forward Charles Smith, the Spurs’ most Daily Herald Photo/Matthew R. Smith effective defender against Malone, thing right now. Weneedto dance picked uphis third and fourth per- and today was not a good example of anything.” Robir=said. “It would be nice if we showed up and San Antonio's David Eebingen runs into otches from Utah's Malone. [32], Chris. feds Seeseet BAL Ss (See JAZZ, Page C2) Too manybig innings prove fatal for Cougars By DOROTHY KNOELL The Daily Herald Assistant Sports Editor In a series full of big innings in a park too small to hold it, BYU gave up one big inning too many Saturday afternoon And with that, the Cougars also gave up the WAC baseball championship to the heavy hitters from No. 12-ranked Cal-State Northridge, who once again battered Cougar pitching for a 23-15 victoty The Matadors, now 47-15, had two big innings in the deciding game three. one of six runs and one of seven. The Cougars had only one big inning, where they scored six. Other than that, both tebasket Bppocays ™ i to a21 mebed soniChios. Gases x ber Ritigan at ese pan. -of- Sprague, Lindsay pace UVSC to championship TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Utah Valley State College won the Region 18 baseball championship for the second time in three years with a 7-4 victory over Treasure Valley Community College Saturday The Wolverines got superb pitching performances from Ryan Sprague and Greg Lindsay. Spr threw shutout ball for the first three innings before allowing a couple of unearned tuns in the fourth. Lindsay, who pitchedall three days in the tour nament.came on and threw six full innings, allowing just two runs Wedidn't really intend to go with Lindsay that long, because he had already thrown twice.” said UVSC coach Steve Gardner. “But he just kept getting better as he went along. | was ready to make a change when | wentout in the seventh, but he said he felt great.” = Lindsay wanied nopart of coming out. "I wanted the ball,” he said. “I felt a little tired between innings, but when | was out there on the mound the adreu.lin got me going.” Lindsay gave up just three hits, and kept UVSCon topall the way The Wolverines scored early, (Se: CHAMPS, Page C2) | Leiter gives Marlins teams chipped away with onehere, three there and two somewhere else. But that one extra big inning held up for Cal-Northridge. “Have we outgrown this park? Sure.” said BYU coach Gary Pullins at the end of the three- game 1996 WACPlayoffs, which included 24 home runs and 101 tuns scored. “This bail was built back in 1969, in the era of wooden bats. A lot of college ballarks were. With the aluminum ats now, yeah, we have outgrown this park. ‘But these were two great-hitting teams and they punished pitchers for making any mistake.” Suil, neither Pullins nor North- fidge coach Mike Batesole could have foreseen the barrage of hits and runs that marked this series. The Cougars scored 40 runs in the Palinssherk shook ‘ple Nad: over ie certainly never believed that would By GREGG DOYEL The Miami Heraid BYU's Daily Heraid Photo‘Jonn Bioagett Roberts is forced out as he slides into second base in the to catch eaEric McDowell for a players and tans. n't be held down. team, and I'm so of every- “Relentless,” was the way tournament MVP Robert Fick described the Matadors’ day — and weekend. body, because all stuck “What a ball game,” said the ge knalgcre gee See i 2-of- V oath four said. “In fact, 1 told Mi runs, i0 runs scored and 1S grum, the Cougars’ second RBls in the three games. “It was of the game] when we ae close the whole way, we could to just hold them down a litte never relax because in this park; because we wees oes eae the ball just seems to jump out. “But the whole team showed up Where men are made. “it's-one of those games where He finished with just six points runs. Guess I should have projected a few more.” detineaetage for the Cougars, } And relentless was what Cal- Northridge wes,a startin = ara Championship. The bottom part of the lineup came through, the top Part came through, every part of bats and making their hardiest hitters, men like Dante Bichete and Andres Galarraga, look increasingly silly as the game wore on. He was getting better with every batter, and he got an ovation just for striking out in the seventh. He got a bigger onePredwy — by catching Jason Matador batters early. But Food another shot at the MataOrs. “I thoughi would pay off big games for 's experience he pitched some last week to get . That's the way it’s been this as here,” said Peliins of his decithat’s what it takes to win a Sion to come back with Gates Sat- simply would- the lineup camethrough. This is a ’ together and came through?” MIAMI — The Marlins already had their most nuns of 1996, but it didn’t matter. They were about to win their sixth consecutive game, two short of the franchise record, but that no longer seemed important, either. Al Leiter was going for a nohitter. Leiter was breaking Colorado urday. “Tom came to me {Friday} night and said he was ready if we (See MATADORS, Page C2) , History was knocking and an appropriately Joe Robbie Stadium crowd of 31.549 was feeiing it. Sowas Leiter. The man with the sizzling stuff, $8.6-rillion contract and mediocre career record gave this franchise its first ao-hitter Saturday night, tending beauty to an already attractive 11-0 Marfins victory. The ninth inning went like this Jayhawk Owens meager groundout to first. bedlam, Quintoa McCracken groundout to second, bedlam, Eric Young strikeout. and the deepest, throatiest, happiest ovation JRS has heard ever for « baseball game. “it was a feeling of jubilation,” Leiter said afterward, “jubilation and relief and exhaustion.” |
