NBA Basketball Sports Fan Blog» Utah Jazz

Kirilenko hopeful for early return

GameSetMatch — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:13:06 +0000

The Utah Jazz finally got some good news about an injured player.

Well, “good” might be pushing it. But for the shorthanded Jazz, even the slightest bit of optimism was a welcome change as Utah tried to piece together another lineup to face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.

Forward Andrei Kirilenko said Wednesday that there was a slight chance he could return from a nagging calf injury in time to join the Jazz if the series goes six or seven games — a much bigger possibility after Utah’s 114-111 win at Denver evened the series 1-1 on Monday night.

“It’s probably highly unlikely, but maybe,” said Kirilenko, who received a dose of platelet-rich plasma therapy to his strained left calf Monday. The injury caused him to miss 15 of Utah’s final 17 games in the regular season and flared up each time Kirilenko thought he was close to returning.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Jazz center Okur out for rest of playoffs

GameSetMatch — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:04:28 +0000

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor says center Mehmet Okur has a torn left Achilles tendon and is out for the remainder of the playoffs.

Okur needs surgery and will likely miss the world championships this summer in his native Turkey. He flew home to Salt Lake City on Sunday after an MRI revealed the tear.

“It’s horrible, man. We feel bad for Memo,” Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said.

Okur was injured while driving to the basket in the first half of Utah’s Game 1 loss at Denver on Saturday night. Before the game, he had taken a painkilling shot to treat his Achilles tendinitis, which he had been dealing with since April 7.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Utah Jazz: Kyle Korver sets NBA record for 3-point accuracy

GameSetMatch — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:18:46 +0000

It’s a good thing Kyle Korver had a few misses to spare.

Though he missed his only 3-point attempt in Wednesday’s 100-86 loss to Phoenix, the Utah Jazz long-ball specialist didn’t shoot himself out of the NBA record books.

The opposite happened over the course of the season, in fact. Korver finished the 2009-10 campaign hitting 53.6 percent of his 3-point shots to secure the NBA’s single-season accuracy record.

“I would’ve liked to have gotten it hitting a bunch of them tonight,” Korver said, “but it’s something that when the season’s over you can be proud of, for sure.

“It’s not one night’s work,” Korver added. “It’s a whole season’s work.”

Click here to read the full article – By Jody Genessy of Deseret News

Gaines’ 3-pointer at buzzer sinks Cavs’ late comeback attempt

GameSetMatch — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:27:47 +0000

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz traded comebacks in the fourth quarter before the least experienced player on either team completed the final rally.

Once Sundiata Gaines let go of his 3-pointer and the buzzer sounded Thursday night, there was no chance for the lead to change again. Utah 97, Cleveland 96.

It was the first career 3-pointer for Gaines, a rookie who was just signed last week to a 10-day contract and was playing only his fifth NBA game.

“He has a little swag in him and believes in himself,” said Carlos Boozer, who fouled out and had to watch Gaines’ winner from the bench. “I tell you what, he made us a believer in him, too.”

LeBron James had led the Cavaliers on a 22-4 run earlier in the fourth quarter and put the Cavs up by six with 32.5 seconds left, but Cleveland couldn’t clinch it from the free-throw line.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com