Le Basketbawl

When the Utah Jazz play like they did  on Thursday night at the Energy Solutions Arena against the Orlando Magic there are not too many clubs that can match up with them. Orlando found that out up close and personal as the Jazz were on fire offensively shooting 50% (42-84) from the hardwood as they took down the Magic by a final score of 120-111.

Utah had three players who had double-doubles which is quite an accomplishment. Point guard Deron Williams was top scorer in the game for Utah as he threw down 32 points while he dished off 15 assists. Carlos Boozer dropped 20 points and grabbed a game high 14 rebounds. Mehmet Okur also copped a double-double  with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Jazz.

Vince Carter still has the ability to put the rock through the rim when he wants to and the veteran got himself a game high 34 points. But the Magic did not supply the same kind of supporting cast that Utah had for Williams as Dwight Howard did not not look like “Superman” in this game. Howard had a good game with 18 points and he scooped 10 rebounds off the glass, but it was not among his better nights. Rashard Lewis scored just 10 points for Orlando while Ryan Anderson came off the bench with  17 points and Matt Barnes would add another 16 in the loss.

It looked like it was going to be an easy night for Orlando as the two teams played in the first. The Magic were on fire and the Jazz looked like extras from “Night Of The Living Dead.”  When the quarter was over Orlando had themselves a 35-22 lead. Utah were able to wake up in the second quarter and they knocked 5 points off the Magic’s lead as the game reached half-time with Orlando now leading 60-52.

The Jazz came out  in the third quarter and started kicking some tail and taking down names! Whether their frustration hit overload or they changed their game plan the momentum started to swing big time over to Utah. The Magic players looked like they had the spit knocked out of them by end of the quarter and Utah now held the upper hand as they were ahead 90-81. The final 12 minutes of play was like street ball as neither team concentrated on defense and both teams scored 30 points each. At the end of the game the Jazz would be the victors at 120-111.

C.J. Miles came off the bench with 22 points for the Jazz while  Matt  Barnes also played himself a nice game off the bench and scored 14 points. Ronnie Brewer would add 10 points in the win for the Jazz who now have a record of 13-9. Orlando snapped a  six game winning streak with the loss and now are 17-5 on the season.