Utah Jazz come out strong against the Toronto Raptors in 125-108 win
Al Jefferson had a game-high 27 points and Deron Williams had a near triple-double as the Utah Jazz (2-2) rolled to a 125-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors (1-3) on Wednesday 3 November
at the Energy Solutions Arena in Utah.
Williams posted 22 points, eight rebounds, and 14 assists in a monster night while power forward Paul Millsap scored 21 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists. C.J. Miles,
who provided the Jazz with some energy off the bench, shot 5-6 from three-point range on his way to scoring 19 points.
The Raptors were led by their sharpshooting Italian centre Andrea Bargnani, who posted 26 points and nine assists. DeMar DeRozan had 16 points and Jarrett Jack chipped in with 14 while
Sonny Weems scored 23 off the bench. Reggie Evans, the league’s leading rebounder heading into last night’s game, only managed six boards on the night.
How it happened
The Jazz came out of the gates with some early energy. After Toronto scored the first basket of the game, Utah scored 17 straight points, adding an 8-0 run in the first quarter to enter
the second frame up 41-25. With both teams scoring 25 points in the second quarter, Toronto still had a considerable deficit at the break, entering halftime down 66-47.
The Raptors showed some grit in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 37-25 in the frame, entering the fourth quarter down only seven points. But two three-pointers by C.J. Miles, one
late in the third and the other early in the fourth, seemed to suck any remaining life out of the visiting team, who were outscored 34-24 in the final quarter on their way to the 17-point loss.
The Raptors suffered their second consecutive loss while the Jazz won their second straight game.
What they said
Williams, known as one of the premier point guards in the game, liked what he saw from his team last night.
"We're getting out and running more, pushing the ball and getting easy looks," he said. "A lot of it just comes from energy and intensity, especially in the first half tonight."
While he wasn’t happy that his team gave up their big lead, he was encouraged by the fact that they got it back.
"Any time you get up 20 on a team in the first half, it's hard to sustain because teams will make a run," he said. "But the most important thing is we were able to get the lead back up
to 20."
For Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, the game turned when Miles made his two three-pointers late in the game, both of which came at opportune moments.
"C.J. made those shots that were heartbreakers for the other team and certainly warmed our hearts when they went in," he said. "It was really refreshing."
Bargnani said his team needs to exhibit more toughness on the court.
"We were too soft and allowed them to do what they wanted," he said.
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