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No Comments [ Add Comment ]With Williams cruisin', Jazz rev up offense
By JIM BURTONEight Jazzmen notch double figures scoring
SALT LAKE CITY -- Well now, if his return to the court on Wednesday was something special, what then, might best describe Deron Williams' performance Friday night against the Sacramento Kings?
Brilliant?
Phenomenal?
Show-stopping?
All of them seemed to apply as the Utah Jazz spanked the Kings 120-94 at EnergySolutions Arena.
One game after returning to the lineup and helping the Jazz reach their highest point total of the season, Williams one-upped himself. He dished out 15 assists -- just as he did on Wednesday -- and scored 13 points as Utah (11-6) won its second in a row.
"It's unbelievable," small forward C.J. Miles said. "That just shows you his basketball IQ is as high as can be."
Eight players reached double digits in scoring for the Jazz, including center Mehmet Okur, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Miles and teammate Ronnie Price scored 18 apiece and Paul Millsap, playing in place of injured All-Star Carlos Boozer, had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Andrei Kirilenko, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Price each as 12 off the bench.
"I didn't know what to expect (in returning to the lineup)," Williams said. "Guys are getting out and hitting shots for me. I'm just trying to run the offense, set guys up. I know my limitations."
Still on the mend from a left ankle inversion sprain that cost him 13 games, Williams had nine assists in the third quarter, and the Jazz outscored the Kings 44-17 in the period.
Those 44 points were the most scored by the Jazz in any quarter since 1992, and the most points scored in a quarter in the NBA this season.
"I love it," Miles said. "It's like playing in high school in a summer league again."
After going into halftime tied up at 50-all, Utah broke out in a big way to start the second half. Seemingly lost in all the high-flying action on the offensive end was the fact much of it started with defense.
The Jazz forced seven Sacramento turnovers, six of them steals. The Kings shot just 8-for-21 from the field during the quarter and were outrebounded 9-5.
"We got momentum because we got out and got our bodies on them a little more, got a couple steals and got in the open court," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said.
Once in the open court, the young Jazzmen would sprint down the floor, just waiting for Williams to get them the ball.
The highlight of the period came after Brewer stole a pass and pushed the ball ahead to Williams. With Brewer and Miles trailing the play, Williams went into showtime mode and purposely bounced the ball off the backboard to Miles, who followed with a dunk.
Afterward, Sloan admitted he didn't particularly like the showmanship, but Williams and his teammates all seemed to delight in the play.
"I liked it," Williams said.
After playing the Jazz to the tie in the first half, the Kings were no match after halftime.
Utah outscored them 70-44 over the third and fourth periods and held them to just 43 percent shooting.
Meanwhile, the Jazz shot 68 percent from the field (26-of-38) and from behind the 3-point line (4-6).
The Kings (5-13) got a team-high 20 points from guard John Salmons and 18 off the bench from center Spencer Hawes.
Reserve Jason Thompson added 16.
"Well, it'd be nice if it was just a first half game," Sacramento coach Reggie Theus said.
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