Boozer, Jazz rebound in 113-99 win over Spurs

[November 06, 2009]  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Carlos Boozer ended his slump with 27 points and 14 rebounds and the Utah Jazz snapped a two-game losing skid by beating the San Antonio Spurs 113-99 on Thursday night.

Deron Williams also scored 27 and had nine assists in Utah's first win over San Antonio since April 2008. Andrei Kirilenko added 12 points and six assists and rookie Wesley Matthews scored a career-high 12 points for Utah, which improved to 2-3.

Tim Duncan had 15 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Parker had 21 points, but scored just four in the second half as the Spurs couldn't overcome the Jazz's shooting.

Boozer finished 12 for 20 and the Jazz went 44 for 83.

DuJuan Blair scored 14 and Manu Ginobili had 11 points for the Spurs.

Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer scored 10 apiece as all five Utah starters scored in double figures.

Utah was coming off a devastating loss at Dallas on Tuesday, when they blew a 16-point lead and allowed the Mavericks to come back and win with a 44-point fourth quarter.

The Jazz smothered any comeback attempts the Spurs had and ended a four-game skid to San Antonio.

Utah was up by 10 at halftime and only let the Spurs get as close as eight before pulling away and protecting the big lead this time.

Boozer was shooting just 35 percent entering the game and was booed when he missed his first shot early in the first quarter, but quickly won back the fans with a couple of hustle plays. Boozer tied up Duncan and forced two jump balls in the first quarter, then carried Utah with his offense.

Boozer also had two steals, both times swatting the ball away from Duncan in the lane and had three assists.

The Jazz led 93-80 after three and survived a brief lull before pulling away again.

Duncan got San Antonio back to 97-86 on a putback, but Paul Millsap answered with a layup and Boozer hit a shot to put Utah back up 103-88. After Michael Finley went 1 for 2 from the line for the Spurs, Boozer stripped the ball from Duncan to start a fast break, which Matthews ended with a layup to put the Jazz up by 16.

NOTES: The Spurs hadn't played since beating Sacramento 113-94 on Saturday. ... The Jazz outrebounded the Spurs 41-36. ... The Jazz hadn't beaten the Spurs since winning 90-64 on April 4, 2008, in Salt Lake City. ... Matthews' previous career high was eight points.

[Associated Press; By DOUG ALDEN]

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