Deron Williams sparks Utah to another easy win

The Utah Jazz still have their injury issues, most significantly the absence of power forward Carlos Boozer who missed his fifth straight game with a thigh injury on Friday night.  With point guard Deron Williams back in the lineup, however, things are already looking up due to the energy and playmaking he brings to the table.  In his second game back in the lineup Williams had another impressive outing as the Jazz easily handled the Sacramento Kings 120-94 at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

Williams had 13 points and 15 assists in 27 minutes of play.  He got to rest for the entire fourth quarter after the Jazz shellacked the Kings 44-17 in the third quarter.  The 44 point outburst was the most in one quarter by a Utah team since they scored 46 against the same Kings in 1992, when John Stockton and Karl Malone still roamed the hardwood of the arena then known as the Delta Center.  To put things into more perspective, in 1992 the Jazz were only one year removed from playing their home games at the old Salt Palace arena. 

According to the all star point guard, the catalyst of their third period run was a sloppy end to the first half and the ensuing lecture from head coach Jerry Sloan:

"We felt like we didn't close out that first half well. Coach let us hear about it a little bit. We just had a lot more energy in that second half, really in that third quarter."

Utah’s Mehmet Okur led the team in scoring and rebounds with 20 points and 12 boards.  Paul Milsap was effective again as he filled in for Boozer in the starting lineup, contributing 11 points and 11 rebounds.  Andrei Kirilenko, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Price chipped in 12 points each as the Jazz finished with 8 players in double figures.

John Salmons led Sacramento with 20 points and Steve Hawes added 18 points for the Kings.  Beno Udrih contributed 11 points and 6 assists.  Salmons expressed his displeasure with his team’s overall energy level and intensity:

"We just didn't come out with the energy that we finished the half with. We made a run at the end of the half, then coming out in the third quarter, they stepped their game up a little bit.”