Williams' 34 points, 12 assists lead Jazz in rout

[February 06, 2009]  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Deron Williams shook off a deep thigh bruise and scored 34 points and handed out 12 assists to lead the Utah Jazz to a 115-87 rout of the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Kyle Korver scored a season-high 20 points in his first start of the season, Ronnie Brewer scored 17 and Mehmet Okur added 16 points and 13 rebounds to power the Jazz to their third win in four games.

Josh Howard led Dallas with 18 points and Dirk Nowitzki scored 14 -- needing 20 attempts to get there -- but the Mavericks saw their four-game winning streak end. It was Dallas' first loss since coach Rick Carlisle put Jason Kidd in charge of calling plays.

Playing against boyhood idol in Kidd, Williams lacked some off his explosiveness to the basket, but his shooting accuracy and playmaking ability was the difference.

Williams, who made five 3-pointers and got a technical for arguing a non-call on a possible sixth, repeatedly beat Kidd to get into the lane and sped past him on fast breaks. On one play in the third quarter, Williams had a crossover dribble drive that left Jason Terry sprawled on the floor to the delight of the crowd.

The Mavericks looked weary after their hard-fought 104-99 win against Portland the night before, but got within 59-52 on Howard's three-point play just after halftime. But Williams scored 16 points in the quarter and his three free throws to end the period staked Utah to a 94-66 advantage.

The Utah point guard missed Monday's 105-86 win over Charlotte because of a bruised right quadriceps, but he has often said he relishes facing Kidd. Williams grew up in Dallas watching Kidd during his first stint with the Mavericks in the mid-1990s.

Nowitzki, who has complained that the Jazz get away with physical play at home, was suspended after a flagrant foul on Andrei Kirilenko last season here and then was suspended another contest after a backhand to Matt Harpring's head in a 97-88 Utah win on Dec. 26.

True to form in this physical series, Jarron Collins had a flagrant foul on Brandon Bass in the first quarter and Howard earned a flagrant on Williams in the third.

The Jazz began the game running an extra defender at Nowitzki and leaving a long-range shooter open on the perimeter. The Mavericks started the game 4-for-19 and Utah led by as many as 15 in the first half.

Notes: Dallas has lost four in a row in Salt Lake and nine of 11. ... Utah's C.J. Miles stayed home to nurse a case of bronchitis. ... Carlos Boozer (knee) and Kirilenko (ankle) are still recuperating from operations. More bad news came when reserve point guard Brevin Knight sprained his left thumb and did not return after a five-minute stint in the first half. ... With all the injuries, the Jazz are battling to stay relevant in the Western Conference playoff race until they get some players back. Utah is using home-court advantage to stay in the race with a 14-1 record against West opponents in Salt Lake City.

[Associated Press]

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