Practice News Story: 8 SPORTS

Practice News Story: 8 SPORTS

Posted: 6:41 p.m., PST, March 22, 2007

Los Angeles - Jazz close on the Clippers 106 - 99, after Mehmet Okur sunk a three with fifteen seconds left, putting the Clippers out of reach. Despite Elton Brands all star performance, with 33 points, the Clippers were not enough, as the Jazz controlled the tempo and energy of the game.

The Jazz were lead by Derek Fishers energy which helped to spark players like C. J. Miles and Paul Milsap. Fisher was clutch with big shots all night, as well as moving the ball around to Boozer, who finished the game with 22 points and a double double. It was Milsap, toward the end of the game that set a screen for Okur who threw down another game winning three pointer. After putting the Jazz up by six points the Clippers only managed to put up one more shot, as the Jazz put up another three at the buzzer making the final score 106 - 99.

Derek Fisher went on to say, I felt great tonight, we came out and played with a lot of emotion and energy, and we came out with a solid win.” We are really focusing on every game now, and trying to come together as a team, so we are prepared for the finals.” Okur said, “this was a big win for us right now, every win is big, but tonight it felt like we were firing on all cylinders.” Jerry Sloan commented, “we finished strong, and executed well, we need to focus on every game now and fix the little things, that way we will come out strong in the finals.”