• Nice early fast break by AK and Brewer
• Boozer will not be able to guard Artest tonight.
• Salmons is getting the start over Moore tonight.
• 6:50 - That is the ugliest shot I have ever seen by Bibby. Looks like AK got a piece. It ended up going off the top of the backboard.
• Jump-shots are just not falling.
• 6:04 - A 3 from AK. If AK keeps shooting like this, Horny needs some bonus pay or a coaching job.
• You’re crazy if you want to trade AK. He’s all over the place on D and makes amazing passes. Is there a bigger play-maker on the team besides Deron?
• 3:12 - Zone by the Kings. Brewer just got put on his back with an amazing stuff by the Kings.
• 2:37 - Is Millsap’s shooting strategy just to throw it at the rim and then get the offensive board and put-back? Because it’s working.
• 2:00 - Martin can go to the rim any time he wants.
• :58 - Martin for 3 and nine points already.
• :21.6 - Now that’s how you beat a zone. Good passes from Hart to Harpring to Hart to Booz for the dunk.

11 points in the quarter for Martin. He’s picking up where he left off last time. The Jazz have had some good plays on offense and have shown flashes of above average defense.

2nd Quarter

• What would it take to get Brad Miller?
• 11:01 - Harpring just put a Ronnie Lott hit on Artest
• 10:14 - KK for 3. He’s starting to come around.
• 9:26 - Artest is all over Okur. The man can guard almost anyone.
• K K K meeting in Ohio as Drake played Creighton. Korver’s brothers played each other.
• 7:07 - I like seeing Williams push it. But then Korver goes and does his best Collins impression by fumbling the great pass from Deron.
• 6:30 - Lots of lay-ups all of the sudden for the Kings. The Jazz do not get back on transition D at all.
• 5:34 - An inbound steal by Memo and he’s left alone for a three. MONEY! Man, Boler’s been dying to say it.
• I must be Korver’s kryptonite because whenever I see him play, he doesn’t hit anything
• There’s the bell guy that rings after every free throw. Got him on camera.
• 3:15 - Turnover from the Kings. Brewer is back in. We seem to be better defensively with him in there.
• 2:20 - Thunder! and Lightning! I don’t understand this call from Bolerjack. He’s saying it when Boozer makes a shot.
• :47 - First FG from Bibby. The Jazz have played pretty well on defense on the perimeter. The Kings have just been making difficult shots.
• Last second shot from Bibby fell, but after the buzzer.

HALF-TIME UPDATE

The offense has been where it always is. They’re shooting 52% and 4-8 from down town. Bad news is that the Kings are shooting 52% as well. I don’t think our record is good when the opposing team shoots over 50%. They’re only 8-13 from the line though. They’re going to have to start making those as Sac is 13-16 and it has definitely kept this one close.

Boozer’s had a perfect first half going 6-6 from the field and 6-6 of guards going by him to the hoop. Some photos from the first half: Flickr3rd Quarter

• Back after some technical and progeny difficulties
• 10:00 - AK another three. Are we going to see more of Horny the coach?
• 8:48 - Miller walks to the Great Salt Lake and back and no travel call.
• 8:45 - And Deron gets the foul on a great block. Amazing. Martin with 19 now. Isn’t he due for an ankle sprain about now?
• 8:09 - Great outlet pass from Booz and fast break dunk from Deron. 68-63 Jazz.
• 7:48 - First mention of possible double-double from Boler
• 6:58 - Is their a bigger dagger then playing D for 23 seconds and then having the opponent nail a three?
• 6:21 - Another three for the Kings. This time from Miller. Man!
• 6:00 - Boozer 10-10 from the floor. Doesn’t Malone have the record for for most field goals in a perfect shooting game? It was like 16-16 or something. I think it might have just got passed recently. Either of you two want to look it up?
• 5:41 - Williams is probably the odd man out in the All-star game? Is that the small market effect? Maybe we’ll have a late injury withdrawal and he’ll get in like Okur.
• 4:44 - Smart foul by Bibby on AK. We can’t hit FTs tonight.
• 4:03 - Artest gets away with a delay of game after kicking the ball and a foul on the other end over AK’s back.
• 3:50 - Make up call? AK pushes in the back to get a board.
• 3:40 -MONEY!
• Why does Artest remind me of Rodman?
• 2:31 - There’s the D. Great block by Millsap!
• 2:30 - And a layup from Boozer on the other end. All of the sudden it’s a ten-point lead. Booz is now 12-12.
• Somebody take out Martin. Criminy!
• I’m way behind with my DVR. I think I’m going to skip ahead here in a minute to catch up.
• 1:12 - 13-13 from the floor for Boozer. Better sit him to preserve that record.
• :42 - Boozer and Millsap and other get a lot of easy putbacks after missed shots by hanging out around the basket. But it costs the Jazz on the other end in fast-break points as they’re still under the hoop and the PG for the other team is crossing half-court.
• :35 - Udrih botches the layup and Millsap gets the foul because he was within the zip code. He ducks out of the way and gets hit with the foul.

Great push in the third to build up the lead. At home they should be able to hold the lead. I’m FF to the fourth now to catch up to live.

4th Quarter

• 8:49 - Artest is playing the part of Rodman well. He’s getting into the heads of the Jazz players with his antics.
• Hmmmmmmmm, McRib. Supposedly it’s going away for the last time, again. Just like those Disney movies go to the vault, never to be seen again.
• Harpring has football mentality? Has he played football again?
• 7:52 - How does Artest get away with so much provocation? Harpring gets a good pick on Martin and gets a foul. Then Martin puts his leg in Harp’s crotch and Artest puts his hands right in Matt’s face.
• 7:35 - Great D on Artest from Boozer. Didn’t think I would be saying that.
• 7:04- Artest with a delay of game and trying to put his elbow into Korver. Then he goes into the camera row after the ball. Thug. With all the fan jawing going on, prepare for another Palace incident.
• 6:54 - Catch, shoot, bang seems to be Boler’s call of choice for KK.
• 6:29 - Martin 29.
• 5:45 - Have we traded for Miller yet? Another three.
• 5:35 - 110-100 Jazz.
• 4:34 - Booner describes a hard foul from Artest in which he had no intention of going after the ball, a clean foul.
• FINALLY! Artest tossed! See ya chest-thumpin’ moron. He was throwing elbows after AK’s free throw. Thug. Does google bombing still work?
• 3:54 - Martin jumps 5 feet into Korver to draw a foul. KK was falling backwards as it happens. Worse call in sports.
• 3:09 - Clutch Williams J to push the lead back to 9.
• Next game at Houston in HD, just not over the air yet.
• 2:33 - Nice anticipation steal of Miller. Two FTs coming. 123-111.
• 2:00 - Play of the game. Williams with the dribble, head fake, and laser from the top of the key to Brewer for the dunk.
• 1:37 -Spencer Doobie.  Best name of the night.  Maybe the ref Spooner challenges him.
• Martin with 17/17 from the line.  Amazing.
• :44 - Worst circus shot from #7 Jones that I’ve ever seen.  Tried to do the up and under reverse and throws it high over the backboard.
• :32 - Thanks goodness Boozer got that double-double finally.  I was getting worried… for Boler.

Solid win over the Kings.  They clamped down in the fourth and made the plays they needed on defense to make sure the Kings got no closer than 6 in the fourth.  Full recap coming.

• 11:46 - Can any of the Jazz players stay on their feet with a pump fake on the perimeter?  The jump into the defender is Manu’s patent move.
• 8:03 - The Jazz are shooting 60% and yet still only lead by 1, 82-81.  The Spurs are only shooting 42%.  The difference?  25 FT attempts v. only 12 for the Jazz.
• Timeout - Highlights of the last time the Jazz won in SA.  Take another drink for the reference.
• 7:28 - Boozer likes the high-fives.
• 7:15 - Man, U suck.  See what I did there?
• 6:42 - 85-84 Spurs.  First lead since early in the first.  Offensive boards are killing the Jazz.
• 5:50 - That’s an MVP play.  The dribbling it and not passing it to Deron, not so much.
• Timeout - 54-18 advantage in the paint for the Jazz.  Amazing.
• 5:25 - Another back-breaking offensive board and a three for the Spurs
• 3:50 - Another three, another offensive board for SA.  Parker makes the two.
• Timeout - Haven’t been able to hear the miced coaches until now.  Fascinating insight from Sloan going to commercial.  “Let’s go!  Come on, let’s go!”
• How can it be this close?  Or should I say, how can SA have the lead?  91-87.  19 turnovers, that’s how.  8 by Boozer.  Ouch.
• 2:37 - Ginobili with the block of the night on Booze.
• 2:03 - Okur is terrible at defending the pick and roll as Manu gets a free ride to the basket.
• 1:30 - Big miss by Bonner.  Gives the Jazz hope.
• 1:20 - Boozer’s only attempting his 3rd and 4th FTs.  There’s your difference.
• :59 - Parker picked a lousy time to get hot.  Good D by the Jazz on this trip.  Clutch shot by Tony.
• :43 - Big miss by Booze at the line.  Did you know that the Jazz haven’t won here since ‘99?
• :41 - Timeout.  96-94 Spurs.
• :30.8 - Manu gets to the line again.  Four-point game.
• :23.8 - Williams on the foul line.  Misses the first.  Haven’t had a field goal in six minutes.  Makes the second.  Three point spread.
• :17.1 - WILLIAMS!  THREE!  One-point game.
• :17.1 - Two Manu free throws.  Only a three point game.  101-98.  Timeout.  Watch for the foul so that the Jazz can’t get a three off.
• :15 - Offensive on Booze.
• 13:9 - Bonner 1-2.  Four point game.
• 5.2 - Fitting that Manu grabs the last board to put the game away.

More on this ugly second half later.

Boozer is dominating as expected.  He’s already got 23 & 14.  Millsap has only played 5 minutes.  Can’t figure that one out.  And say what you want about Sloan’s rotations, but as far as knowing which lesser players to play, he’s usually right on.  Right now Miles is playing pretty well.  Let’s hope that Jazz keep up this play in the fourth.

• 11:07 - Nice D from Deron taking the charge from Mr Longoria.  Tony has to sit now with three fouls early.
• 10:00 - Deron for two.  Let’s hope the Jazz can go on a nice run in the third without Parker to put this away.
• 9:16 - First reminder of the 16 straight losses.
• 8:56 - Vaughn will not be intimidated!
• 7:55 - Okur gets the roll.  No three-point attempts yet?
• 7:26 - Aahhh, the first flop for Manu.  I was getting worried.  And two F bombs from Sloan.  The NBA should designate the movie rating on fans’ tickets.  The area behind the Jazz bench would be NC-17.
• 6:20 - Home cookin’.  Manu gets the clear lane to the basket call even though Okur got his hand on the ball.  How can one player keep his team in the game like that?
• 5:30 - Man, that was some nice D by Manu.  It looked like Brewer clearly had him beat on a backdoor and he was still somehow able to pickoff the pass.
• 4:55 - Someone tell AK that he has to call the bank to make sure they’re open before taking that kind of shot.  What would have been 3 feet off, goes in off the glass.
• 3:51 - Spurs have the best record in the last 10 years of all the major sports.  Is the NHL suppose to be on that list?
• 3:40 - Brewer with what seems like his 10th dunk of the night.
• 2:40 - Boozer with another turn-around.  There’s your MVP.
• 2:19 - Timeout - 70-68 Jazz.
• 2:04 - How many more points could Malone have had if he could finish with the left like Boozer?
• :43 - No FG from Longoria since 7:03 in the first.  Has to be the surprise that of the night

This is exactly the start the Jazz needed.  They have typically gotten behind in the first and don’t recover.

• Deron Williams is getting whatever shot he wants.  5-5 shooting to along with 5 assists for 11 points.
• Without Duncan, the Jazz are dominating on the inside.  Brewer is getting dunks and Williams is getting layups.
• ESPN main page link: Host Jazz facing Duncan-less Spurs.  Host Jazz?
• The D is looking better tonight.  The Spurs are having to settle for jump-shots.

Couldn’t ask for a better start.  The Jazz are shooting 70% while holding the Spurs to only 42%.