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Jazz regain edge, punch out L.A. Lakers 96-87
The Jazz are open to adding players to their 13-man roster. Utah can add up to two more athletes and is able to carry 15 at once. The Jazz know they need healthy bodies for an upcoming two-month road test, and the team will watch the waiver wire to see if anyone is made available that can help the organization.Coach Tyrone Corbin on the Jazz not falling backward: This is a group of guys that's not going to quit. They want this thing to be special and we understand where we have to get better in a lot of areas. As long as we stay together and we put forth the effort like we did tonight and we've continued to do all year, we'll be OK. We may fall a little bit. But guess what? We're going to fight our way back through it and that's just the way it's going to be. Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter at times carrying the Jazz: They were. Earl did a good job of getting them in some pick-and-rolls. When they penetrate to the basket, they were pushing it. They did a great job of reading their two big guys. When one dove, one came around. Earl penetrated baseline and made some good passes, and they were able to finish some plays for it and that was great.Corbin said Kanter did a good job of meeting Andrew Bynum early during the shot clock, using his body against him and making him take tough shots.Corbin on Earl Watson: … Just a tough, tough professional, man. If you would've seen his ankle this morning … it's still swollen. We taped it up and he wanted to play and he played. Raja Bell walked with a limp after the game and acknowledged his legs were "flat," but said his strained right adductor held up well overall."I never felt any pain in it," Bell said.Bell on the Jazz standing their ground: That's important. That's a good quality for a young team to have. I've been on a few young teams that when things go bad, it just slides and before you know it's out of control. The fact that we've got that gumption and we're able to kind of rally the troops and come back and win big games when it's necessary is exciting.C.J. Miles said the Jazz trapped Kobe Bryant as much as possible and made him play off the ball whenever they could."He never really got a real rhythm," Miles said. "He's going to score his points. He's going to. But he never really got that rhythm where it's like he's going to really take over this game. We opened that gap and we really made it hard for him when he came back in."The Jazz won despite little production from starting point guard Devin Harris, who scored one point on 0-of-6 shooting in 21:34 after returning from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss a game Thursday at Golden State.All five Utah reserves who entered the game scored at least seven points, with Josh Howard, Favors and Kanter in double figures.By far the best all-around and most consistent game this season from the Jazz's four big men. Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Favors and Kanter combined for 56 points and 40 rebounds.The Lakers scored 25 points or less during all four quarters and were held to just 38 during the second half.Utah collected 18 offensive rebounds, took 12 more shots than Los Angeles and outscored the Lakers 52-40 in the paint.
Excellent win by Utah at a perfect time, and the Jazz continue to prove themselves. Now, onto the road ...
Derrick Favors' play still evolving
End war of words, John Stockton urges
Brian T. SmithTwitter: @tribjazz