From Williams' less-than-perfect ankle to Olesiak's bout with cancer
SACRAMENTO ‘ A few leftover tidbits from the Jazz’s late-starting 99-94 win at Sacramento on Tuesday night:
Utah won despite committing 25 turnovers, including 18 in the first half and 11 in the first quarter alone.
Point guard Deron Williams, who was tagged with four of the turnovers, faulted himself for much of that.
‘I was just not there mentally,” he said.
‘I am used to being able to get by people,” added Williams, whose sprained left ankle still has him at something less than his usual self. ‘I get a little discouraged when I can’t, then do some things I shouldn’t.”
Yet Williams ultimately lifted the Jazz by scoring back-to-back baskets in the game’s final one minutes and five seconds.
‘I think that fourth quarter was great for my confidence,” he said. ‘I have to get into my mode of being aggressive.”
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Said Jazz backup shooting guard Kyle Korver about Williams: ‘I think, with his injury, he is trying to get into the flow of the game and get everyone involved. He is obviously not 100 percent right now. ‘ It took him a while to get into the game, but he did what he does, and that’s why he’s our leader.”
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The Jazz made just 15 field goals in Tuesday’s first half.
Obscure but fun fact of the night, via text message courtesy of Jazz public-relations man Jonathan Rinehart: Last time they had more turnovers than field goals in a half was back in February, when they had 15 miscues and 14 baskets in the third and fourth quarters of an overtime win at Denver.
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Kevin Martin’s 22 points for Sacramento were a game-high, and came in his first game back after missing with a sprained ankle. ‘ Jazz power forward Paul Millsap’s 13 points and 11 rebounds marked his fifth double-double of the season. ‘ Reserve shooting guard Morris Almond’s 12 points for the Jazz were a career-high. ‘ The 12-7 Jazz are now 2-4 this season when trailing after three quarters, and 11-1 when holding an opponent to less than 100 points.
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And finally: One of Tuesday’s refs was Ron Olesiak, who is working again following a battle with cancer. Earlier Tuesday, it was announced that the National Basketball Referees Association will contribute to a grant established by The V Foundation ‘ the cancer research organization inspired by late North Carolina State coach Jim Valvano ‘ in Olesiak’s honor. The two-year, $100,000 grant was awarded to Dr. Stephen B. Long of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
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