They went into the fourth quarter Friday night down by nine points to the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center and ended it with a stirring 126-118 victory, the ramifications of which they could ponder the entire flight back to Utah.
Not only did they win for just the 14th time in 33 road games all season, the Jazz passed the Suns in the standings at 41-22 and clinched the season series tiebreaker in the event the two Western Conference heavyweights finish with identical records.
"I'm going to tell you: They're a good team," Carlos Boozer said. "And actually it could be one of those matchups we have in the first round or the second round, if we get that far. So for us to beat them means a lot to us."
Boozer battled foul trouble all game, playing just 27 minutes, but hit the night's biggest shot with 31.1 seconds left. With the shot clock about to expire, Boozer took a pass from Kyle Korver in the lane and banked in an 8-footer to give the Jazz a 122-118 lead.
"I thought Kyle was going to shoot it," said Boozer, who scored 23 points, "then they doubled him, so I went to the hoop and just tried to throw it up really quick." He thanked God for blessing him "with a little touch" when he needed it.
The Jazz had been 0-11 on the road when they entered the fourth quarter trailing. That changed Friday as the Jazz quickly erased what had been a 94-85 Phoenix lead in less than 3 1/2 minutes. They went on to win the fourth quarter 41-24.
Deron Williams somehow bounced off Shaquille O'Neal and into a three-point play, then beat Steve Nash with a drive for a layup that gave the Jazz a 97-96 lead with 8:42 to play. The Jazz had trailed by 12 in the first quarter and 11 late in the third.
They withstood everything Phoenix had over the course of the night - a 37-point game from Amare Stoudemire, five three-pointers from Raja Bell, 17 points and 15 assists from Nash - and somehow were the stronger team down the stretch.
They went into the final 2 1/2 minutes tied 114-114 before Korver deflected a Nash pass for a steal and then went to the line as Nash fouled him. He converted both free throws, as did Boozer after he was fouled by O'Neal with 1:31 left.
The Suns closed to 118-117 as Stoudemire dunked as part of a three-point play. But Williams drove and pulled up for a 12-footer and O'Neal made just one of two free throws to leave the Jazz with a 120-118 lead before Boozer's shot in the final minute.
After Boris Diaw traveled at the other end for Phoenix, Boozer fouled out on a charge taken by Nash with 21.9 seconds left. But Leandro Barbosa missed a three-pointer to cap a night in which he went just 2 of 10.
Korver, who scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter, called it "well chronicled" as far as the Jazz's inability to win on the road. "So to come here," he said, "one of tougher places to play against one of the one of the better teams. . . . I think it's a good confidence booster for us."
Williams finished with 25 points and 15 assists and has averaged 19 points and 16.3 assists in the Jazz's last four games. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan called Williams' play "sensational" and the third-year guard admitted to having some extra motivation against Nash.
"He outplayed me last time we were here," Williams said. "I definitely remember stuff like that. I wanted to come out and assert myself early." Nash had 29 points and 11 assists to Williams' 18 and 6 in Phoenix's 103-98 victory on Dec. 12.
The Suns dropped to 3-6 since acquiring O'Neal last month from Miami. O'Neal had 20 points, seven rebounds and several overpowering dunks. He and Stoudemire caused foul trouble for the Jazz all game, but Sloan's team was able to respond when it counted.
"They finally stayed together and tried to work together," Sloan said, "so they'd have a chance to win and that's what you like to see."
