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October 6, 2008 8:58:12 AM CDT


Mehmet Okur Leads Utah Past San Antonio, 90-64

By DOUG ALDEN | Associated Press | Apr 4, 08 9:44 PM CDT in Sports 

Mehmet Okur had 17 points and 16 rebounds and the Utah Jazz ended San Antonio's eight-game winning streak, beating the Spurs 90-64 on Friday night.

San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, is fouled by Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Price (17) as he tries to slip between Price and Utah Jazz forward Matt Harpring, right, during the second...   (Associated Press)
San Antonio Spurs forward Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, blocks Utah Jazz guard Deron Williams from behind during the first quarter of the NBA basketball game Friday, April 4, 2008, in Salt Lake City....   (Associated Press)
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The Jazz held the defending NBA champion Spurs without a point for almost the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter.

Utah dominated the Spurs the same way San Antonio controlled the Jazz in the Western Conference finals last spring, winning easily in five games.

Deron Williams had his 50th double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 assists, opening the fourth quarter with a high alley-oop to Andrei Kirilenko to start a 13-0 run for the Jazz. Kirilenko finished with 10 points and six assists, and Carlos Boozer added 16 points and flustered Spurs star Tim Duncan all night.

Duncan finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, but sat most of the fourth quarter as the Jazz ran away with it.

Tony Parker had 17 points for San Antonio, but only four assists.

Unlike last year's playoffs, the Jazz never let the Spurs get too far ahead. San Antonio never led by more than eight and Utah easily overcame that deficit and took command in the third quarter.

Kirilenko, who has missed 10 games this season with injuries, went hard to the floor while going after loose balls in the third quarter. He tied up Michael Finley on one play early in the third quarter and forced a jump ball, which Utah won. Boozer broke the tie on two free throws, starting a 6-0 run for the Jazz.

Later in the period, Kirilenko hit the floor again in almost the same spot when he stripped the ball from Manu Ginobili to start a fast break for the Jazz. Kyle Korver, who scored 11, was fouled on the layup attempt and made both free throws to give Utah a 64-53 lead. Fabricio Oberto got the two points back for San Antonio when he took a forearm from Boozer in the lane and made both free throws, but Utah still led by nine entering the fourth quarter and had the Spurs scrambling.

Williams opened the fourth quarter with a high alley-oop pass to Kirilenko, who came out of nowhere to grab it and slam it in to the delight of the Utah fans, who got even louder when San Antonio turned over the ball and Harpring scored on a back-door layup to put Utah up 68-55.

Kirilenko added a three-point play, Williams made two free throws and Harpring got behind the defense for another easy layup to put Utah up 75-55 and force San Antonio to call a second time out in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio didn't score in the fourth until Damon Stoudamire, in after coach Gregg Popovich emptied the bench, hit a 19-foot jumper with 8:11 left in the game. That got the Spurs within 20 again at 77-57.

Notes:@ Williams left the game in the first quarter to have his ankle re-taped. ... Duncan and Parker were the only Spurs who scored in double figures. ... The Jazz close the regular season April 16 at San Antonio, where they haven't won since 1999. ... The Spurs did not score for the final 2:04 of the second quarter.

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