Memo’s 23 points pave way for win over Grizzlies
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Kasım 24, 2008 00:00
MEMPHIS - Utah Jazz’s Turkish center Mehmet "Memo" Okur had a season-high 23 points, leading his side to a 103-94 victory over Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.
The Jazz were without guard Deron Williams, leading scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer and key reserve Kyle Korver, but still managed to overcome the offensive loss with a strong defense effort. Utah forced 20 Memphis turnovers and left the Grizzlies shooting 47 percent, and only 4-of-14 from 3-point range.
Okur was 9-of-15 from the field, including missing only one of his five shots from 3-point range, as the Jazz won the sixth straight game in the series.
Ronnie Brewer, who was 10-of-14 from the floor, added 21 points, matching his career high. Morris Almond had 11, and Ronnie Price 10. The Jazz shot 55 percent, including 54 percent from 3-point range.
Williams missed his 12th game because of a sprained ankle, while Boozer sat out with a strained left quadriceps, and Korver was sidelined by an inflamed right wrist.
"(The injury situation) gives other guys a chance to play, and they should relish that and be ready to play when they get the opportunity,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We are sorry that some guys are out, but we're still going to play the game.''
O.J. Mayo led Memphis with 23 points, and Rudy Gay added 21. Darrell Arthur had a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds, and Mike Conley finished with 14 points and eight assists.
"Everyone was active on the defensive end, and we were able to help each other,'' Okur said. "It was a nice game for us.''
Memphis was able to cut the deficit under double digits with a small rally late in the third, and Utah carried a 77-69 advantage heading into the fourth.
But the Jazz ran away at the start of the fourth and won their third game in the last four the only loss, 119-94, coming Friday night at San Antonio. "The effort on defense is how we're making it right now,'' Okur said.
Meanwhile, the expansion Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach P.J. Carlesimo on Saturday, losing patience with his efforts to kickstart the NBA's new franchise after a dismal start.
With the relocated team - formerly the Seattle Supersonics - off to a league-worst 1-12 start, Carlesimo was replaced on an interim basis by assistant Scott Brooks.
The firing followed a 105-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, the Thunder's 10th straight defeat. Brooks made his debut Saturday in a rematch with the Hornets in New Orleans, and general manager Sam Presti said Brooks would finish the season.
Okur was 9-of-15 from the field, including missing only one of his five shots from 3-point range, as the Jazz won the sixth straight game in the series.
Ronnie Brewer, who was 10-of-14 from the floor, added 21 points, matching his career high. Morris Almond had 11, and Ronnie Price 10. The Jazz shot 55 percent, including 54 percent from 3-point range.
Williams missed his 12th game because of a sprained ankle, while Boozer sat out with a strained left quadriceps, and Korver was sidelined by an inflamed right wrist.
"(The injury situation) gives other guys a chance to play, and they should relish that and be ready to play when they get the opportunity,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We are sorry that some guys are out, but we're still going to play the game.''
O.J. Mayo led Memphis with 23 points, and Rudy Gay added 21. Darrell Arthur had a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds, and Mike Conley finished with 14 points and eight assists.
"Everyone was active on the defensive end, and we were able to help each other,'' Okur said. "It was a nice game for us.''
Memphis was able to cut the deficit under double digits with a small rally late in the third, and Utah carried a 77-69 advantage heading into the fourth.
But the Jazz ran away at the start of the fourth and won their third game in the last four the only loss, 119-94, coming Friday night at San Antonio. "The effort on defense is how we're making it right now,'' Okur said.
Meanwhile, the expansion Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach P.J. Carlesimo on Saturday, losing patience with his efforts to kickstart the NBA's new franchise after a dismal start.
With the relocated team - formerly the Seattle Supersonics - off to a league-worst 1-12 start, Carlesimo was replaced on an interim basis by assistant Scott Brooks.
The firing followed a 105-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, the Thunder's 10th straight defeat. Brooks made his debut Saturday in a rematch with the Hornets in New Orleans, and general manager Sam Presti said Brooks would finish the season.