Jazz end star-less Spurs' 11-game win streak

[April 10, 2012]  SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Devin Harris scored 25 points, including 11 straight in the fourth quarter, and the Utah Jazz halted the San Antonio Spurs' 11-game winning streak and boosted their own playoff hopes with a 91-84 victory Monday night.

Paul Millsap added 18 points for the Jazz, who avenged a 114-104 road loss Sunday to the Spurs.

Utah (30-28) is injury riddled but the Spurs (40-15) were short-handed in a different way, choosing not to bring stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili for the rematch. Coach Gregg Popovich wanted that trio, averaging 46.8 points, to rest.

Gary Neal and Tiago Splitter scored 14 points apiece, and DeJuan Blair added 13 in San Antonio's first loss since March 17.

The Jazz were down eight, and pulled within two before Harris scored 11 straight, including a pair of 3-pointers. Millsap's follow dunk sealed it for the Jazz, who won despite 20 turnovers.

Utah had lost its three previous meetings this season to San Antonio by nearly a 10-point margin and went 0-3 against the Spurs last season.

But Popovich called it a "no brainer" to rest Duncan, Parker and Ginobili when he looked at San Antonio's upcoming schedule.

The Spurs play three games in four days starting with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. They have 11 games remaining in the condensed season and already have locked up a playoff spot.

Popovich wasn't worried about securing the No. 1 overall seed but "trying to survive."

The Jazz are trying to do the same, as they entered Monday's game in 10th place, 1 1/2 games out of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Both teams looked out of sorts early, with the Jazz starting 1 of 7 with a pair of turnovers and the Spurs starting 1 of 6.

Much of it could be attributed to makeshift lineups both teams put together.

With their stars at home, the Spurs started Patty Mills, Boris Diaw and Stephen Jackson. The Jazz, missing small forwards Josh Howard (knee) and C.J. Miles (calf) because of injury, started DeMarre Carroll, who was on his fourth team in three years and making only his second career start in 99 games.

While veteran Al Jefferson got things rolling for the Jazz with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in the first quarter, Blair carried the Spurs early.

Blair, whom Popovich sat Sunday to give him a rest, led the Spurs with 11 points in the first quarter on 5-of-7 shooting.

The Jazz took a 23-19 lead into the second quarter and bumped it to 30-23 on a spin move inside by Derrick Favors.

Neal, Mills and Splitter brought San Antonio back with seven points apiece in the second quarter as the Spurs pulled within 47-44 at the break.

The Spurs looked in control in the fourth, when they surged ahead 75-67 on a free throw by Splitter.

But Jamaal Tinsley hit a jumper, then Harris took over. He finished 7 of 17, but 3 of 7 from beyond the arc, and made 8 of 12 free throws.

Gordon Hayward added 16 points, and Jefferson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

NOTES: Hall of Famer John Stockton was in attendance and received a standing ovation from the crowd when he was announced and shown on the big screen. ... Utah signed NBA D-League sharp-shooter Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract Monday. ... The Jazz announced backup point guard Earl Watson would have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. He is out indefinitely. ... Miles won't travel with the team on its three-game road trip because of a strained left calf. ... Jazz F Jeremy Evans sprained his right ankle in the third quarter and did not return.

[Associated Press; By LYNN DeBRUIN]

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