Phoenix » It's been so long since the Jazz dropped consecutive games -- not since a three-game skid from Dec. 31 to Jan. 4 -- that they could be forgiven for forgetting what a losing streak feels like.

They faced down one trailing by 11 points to the Phoenix Suns in the fourth quarter Thursday night, but came roaring back to take a 116-108 victory at US Airways Center that left them 11/2 games ahead of Phoenix for fourth place in the Western Conference.

The Jazz tied a franchise record by hitting seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter, which they won 41-22. They trailed 96-85 with 7:43 remaining after Jason Richardson's three-pointer but outscored the Suns 31-12 the rest of the way.

It won't measure up to the Jazz's 25-point second-half comeback against Portland in a Feb. 21 overtime victory, but it was impressive all the same. With the victory, the Jazz won their 15th road game this season, matching their entire total (15-26) from last season.

"We just keep finding ways to win," said Deron Williams, who strapped a brace back on his injured right wrist and finished with 27 points and nine assists, hitting 10 of 20 shots, five three-pointers and scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter.

"We can't really afford to keep doing that, keep living on the edge, keep living dangerously. We get down and a lot of times you can't get back. This was one game where we were fortunate enough to get going in the fourth."

Amare Stoudemire led Phoenix with 30 points, including 15 in the third quarter. C.J. Miles hit two three-pointers to start the Jazz's comeback in the fourth and finished with 15 points. Mehmet Okur had 24 points and Carlos Boozer totaled 15 points and 15 rebounds.

"This was one game where we got outscored [56-42] in points in the paint and that usually doesn't happen with us," Williams said. "Especially against this team because they usually are the ones hitting all the threes.

"It felt good that our three-point shots bailed us out and we were able to come alive in that fourth quarter."

The Jazz (39-22) had been just 2-3 since coming back from the All-Star break with a perfect 4-0 trip and had suffered disappointing road losses to Sacramento in the Clippers in the past week.

With the Jazz leading 105-104, Andrei Kirilenko broke up Robin Lopez's pass to Grant Hill and took off on the break. Instead of giving up the dunk, Lopez shoved Kirilenko in the back with both hands and sent him tumbling over the courtside photographers.

"The whole my body is like sore," said Kirilenko, who is battling back issues. "Tomorrow is going to be like crazy." Asked about the improbable comeback, Kirilenko said: "We were sitting like snipers in waiting."

Lopez was called for a first-degree flagrant foul but Kirilenko only could convert 1 of 2 free throws. Jason Richardson followed up Stoudemire's missed jumper with a huge dunk to tie the game 106-106 with 1:50 to play.

But Williams answered with a three-pointer and then found Okur for another three with 58.9 seconds remaining. As the Suns called timeout trailing 112-108, Williams pumped his fist on the way to the bench.

The Jazz faced an 86-75 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter, but Williams connected on successive three-pointers to shave the Suns' lead to 86-81. Phoenix pushed the margin back to 96-85 as Richardson drilled a three-pointer after Williams missed a runner.

But Miles gave the Jazz life by hitting consecutive three-pointers and a Boozer layup made it 98-93. Stoudemire missed a shot over Boozer following a timeout and Boozer converted in the lane to bring the Jazz within three.

"It felt great," said Miles, who has taken the tape off his shooting hand for the first time following thumb surgery. "I was able to make some plays, be able to make some shots." He went on to describe the victory as "gi-normous" in terms of importance.

Hill couldn't get a jumper to fall and the Jazz tied the score 98-98 on an Okur three-pointer with 4:25 remaining. It was a 13-2 run in all for the Jazz, who took their first lead since the first quarter at 103-102 as Miles raced ahead for a layup as part of a three-point play.

rsiler@sltrib.com