Utah Jazz edge Orlando Magic with another come-from-behind win
After erasing a 22-point lead to stun the star-studded Miami Heat, the Utah Jazz pulled off another come-from-behind win when they defeated the Orlando Magic, 104-94, on Wednesday 10 November
at the Amway Center in Orlando.
Deron Williams had an outstanding game as the superstar point guard scored 30 points and dished out 14 assists for the Jazz, who were down by 18 points in the third period before unleashing
a huge rally to beat the Magic.
“We just got a couple of easy baskets,” said Williams, who also grabbed five rebounds and was 3-for-7 from beyond-the-arc. “The score starts going down, we started gaining confidence and
they start I wouldn't say panicking, but kind of pressing and we took advantage of that.”
Paul Millsap, who was the hero in their previous game, tallied 23 points and five rebounds, while Al Jefferson added 21 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz, who bagged their fifth win
of the season.
“I guess, getting behind,” Millsap said with a laugh when asked what is they in their two recent wins against title-contenders. “I guess that's what it takes to show all our talents.”
Trailing by 18 points, 74-56, with 1:36 left in the third period, the Jazz erased the huge deficit with a 24-2 blast and they took an 80-76 lead after Andrei Kirilenko and Williams hit two-straight
three-pointers. They never looked back and successfully ended their tough back-to-back against the Heat and Magic unbeaten.
“Improbable? We're supposed to be able to play,” said Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan on their two-straight wins. “It wasn't probably, it was just a matter of trying to come and play and worry
about what happened later.”
Vince Carter paced the Magic with his 20 points, while Jameer Nelson, who is coming off a sprained left ankle, scored 19 points and dished out seven assists for the Magic, who had 21 turnovers
in the game and had a lot of defensive lapses in the game.
“Ridiculous professional basketball,” said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy after the game. “When I'm looking at 21 turnovers and three straight games of giving teams 50 per cent shooting,
then I know we have problems.”
Rashard Lewis racked up 16 points and seven rebounds, while Brandon Bass and Dwight Howard chipped in 14 points apiece, but they just could not hold off the Jazz, who also erased an 18-point
deficit against the Los Angeles Clippers on 6 November.
“You do your work to get a big lead and the question is, Can you sustain it,” said Magic guard Carter. “They've done a great job in past games of making their comebacks and they did it again.”
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