Jazz needed no luck

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Mar 18, 2008 | by Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News

On a ho-hum night against a struggling team missing All-Star forward Chris Bosh, not even the fact they tied the franchise record for consecutive home victories -- 19 -- impressed the Jazz.

Instead, a sluggish start and uninspired play -- until backup point guard Ronnie Price spurred a decisive fourth-quarter run -- and the early departures of two Utah starters at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena were all that seemed to matter after a 96-79 win Monday over the Toronto Raptors.

"It means nothing," point guard Deron Williams said of the streak, which matches ones from Dec. 13 through March 3 of the 1989- 90 season and Jan. 19 through March 29 of 1996.

"I mean, the streak is nice, and I'm glad to be a part of it," added backup shooting guard Kyle Korver, who since a late-December trade from Philadelphia to Utah has yet to lose in a Jazz uniform at home. "But it's not the focus of playing the games."

Holding ground and/or moving up in the tight Western Conference playoff race is, which is why Jazz coach Jerry Sloan seemed a tad concerned after not only starting center Mehmet Okur left in the first quarter with the stomach flu but also All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer exited in the fourth with a mild muscle strain in the left side of his back.

Boozer -- who had a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double -- is considered probable for practice when the Jazz return to work Wednesday morning.

"That's still a long road ahead of us," Sloan said of formally qualifying for the playoffs, which with 13 games remaining in the regular season is something the Northwest Division-leading Jazz have not yet done.

"A lot of things can happen," added Sloan, whose 45-24 club hasn't lost at home since falling Dec. 29 to league-leading Boston. "You see Memo's sick tonight, and Boozer steps off the floor. You never know."

Sloan didn't seem to know what the Jazz had in store early on, either, at the start of a five-game homestand that continues with Thursday's visit from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Though Utah led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, the Jazz and Raptors were tied at the end of the first and again at 65-65 heading into the fourth.

With game-high 21-point scorer Williams watching, Price engineered a 24-4 run until being relieved with five minutes and 33 seconds remaining.

Korver also delivered for the Jazz in the final quarter, scoring 11 of his 17points in the fourth on a night he atoned for missing two 3-pointers in the final minute of Saturday's two-point loss at New Jersey.

But it was Price who really got the Jazz clicking.

The Utah Valley State product scored four of his 13 points and delivered three of his career high-tying five assists during the run, and by the time he was done the Jazz -- fresh off a 2-2 road trip -- were comfortably en route to winning for the eighth time in their last 10 games.

Along the way, Price flustered the heck out of Raptors backup point T.J. Ford, who wound up getting ejected on two technicals.

"Just frustration," said Ford, who flipped out after an offensive foul.

"They got frustrated because they've been trying hard to win games, and it didn't happen for us on the trip," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell, whose 34-33 club went 0-for-5 on a five-game Western road swing, added with regard to all his Raptors.

Ford and starting point Jose Calderon were especially irritated.

"Jose and T.J. both kept tell me that they felt like the guys (Williams and Price) were riding them with their bodies," added Mitchell, whose Raptors were without Bosh (sore right knee) for a 10th straight game. "Jose told me about that early in the game ... and then it's frustrating too, because we got some calls against us that we felt could go either way."

The Jazz, meanwhile, were annoyed they didn't make things easier on themselves.

And because they did not, they weren't about to let any streak -- or even their league-leading 29-3 home record -- mean too much.

"You don't want to get too big-headed about it," forward Paul Millsap said, "because any team is liable to come and beat you at your own court."

MISC.: When Williams yelled at referee Eddie F. Rush to "Blow your whistle," Rush did and tagged the Jazz point with his fourth technical foul of the season. ... Jazz 2004 first-round draft choice Kris Humphries had five points on 2-of-6 field shooting and five rebounds in 19 minutes for Toronto. ... Raptors big man Andrea Bargnani left for X-rays on his nose after getting struck by teammate Jamario Moon in the fourth quarter. Results were negative. ... Korver said he enjoyed his 27th birthday Monday because he now not only has moved into a place of his own, but also finally has had his cable hooked up and has bought a bed to sleep in. ... Though he's already deep into his third NBA season, Jazz reserve swingman C.J. Miles turns just 21 today.