Deron Williams hit a jump shot with just two seconds remaining as Utah edged Los Angeles 88-86 Thursday in the third game of first round NBA playoff series.
“I had to make up for my horrible play all night so I am glad I made the shot,” Williams said. “Now we are back in the series and we put a little fear into them.”
Carlos Boozer tied a Jazz postseason record with 22 rebounds and scored 23 points as the Jazz pulled within 2-1 in the series. Game four is today in Utah.
PHOTO: AP
In the other West matchup on Thursday, Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points and Josh Howard added 17 and eight rebounds as Dallas routed San Antonio 88-67 to take a 2-1 lead in their series.
Williams finished with 13 points and nine assists, winning it with only his third field goal of the game against the Lakers.
“Boozer just fell into some really good plays. They got some guys off the bench that hurt us,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
The Lakers had a chance to win, but Kobe Bryant’s three-pointer at the buzzer sailed wide and Utah enjoyed their first win of the playoffs.
“I know I played bad,” Bryant said. “I didn’t shoot the ball well. They did a good job of mixing up their defense.”
Lamar Odom led the Lakers with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Bryant scored 18 despite going just five-for-24 from the floor.
“Lot of things didn’t play for him tonight,” Jackson said of Bryant.
Dallas allowed just 30 points in the first two quarters as San Antonio finished with its fewest points in a post-season contest in front of a crowd of 20,491.
Nowitzki nailed a series of jump shots to start the third quarter as the Mavericks improved to 16-1 at home since the all-star break.
“If we don’t make shots at least we need to play defense,” Parker said. “We didn’t play defense.”
The Mavericks led by 16 points at the half and then built a 26-point lead. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich then sat starters Tony Parker and Tim Duncan to rest them for Saturday’s game four. Dallas is 7-1 in games following 20-point losses and Erick Dampier had two points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
J.J. Barea had 13 points and seven assists in his first career playoff start and Jason Kidd had six assists and eight rebounds.
France’s Parker, who had 38 points in game two, was San Antonio’s leading scorer with just 12 points.
He made only five of 14 shots, with as many turnovers (three) as assists. Duncan had four points on two-of-nine shooting, with as many fouls (two) as rebounds.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
AFP, CHICAGO
Paul Pierce pumped in 24 points to power the defending champion Boston Celtics to a 107-86 rout of Chicago in their first round playoff series on Thursday.
Rajon Rondo added 20 points for Boston, who took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first round NBA series.
The teams split two games in Boston, but the Celtics were never challenged on Thursday. Boston led by 11 after one quarter and 22 at the half on their way to a dominating victory.
“In game one and two, I was a little indecisive but I’m getting comfortable with what [the Bulls] want to do,” Pierce said.
The Celtics are in good shape heading into tomorrow’s game four, even though they are missing injured star Kevin Garnett.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
RSS