Upper Bowl Jazz Fan

Jazz Comeback Defeats the Cavaliers – 1/14/10

// January 15th, 2010 // Game Summary

Sundiata Gaines…wow.  2 weeks ago this guy was playing for the Idaho Stampede and tonight he hits a game winning shot against The Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the top 3 teams in the NBA, on national television.  He was unphased, confident, and just brilliant.  Deron Williams played just 18 minutes and left the game after re-injuring his left wrist.  Let’s pray he doesn’t miss much time but I fear he may.  Ronnie Price and Sundiata Gaines (again) stepped up to contribute big time.  After 3 quarters of play the Cavaliers led 60-55.  Those first 3 quarters will filled with poor shooting from the Jazz and an abundance of turnovers from the Cavs.  Cleveland’s 23 turnovers was a season high and the only reason the Jazz were able to stay in this game.

The Jazz led by 12 with 3:55 left in the game and couldn’t find a way to stop LeBron James from scoring 20 points in the 4th quarter to give the Cavs a 6 point lead with under a minute to play.  I thought the game was over…I was not alone.  Energy Solutions began to empty out at that point. The turning point, however, was Ronnie Price’s 3 pointer to cut the lead to 3.  The Jazz couldn’t have made a comeback if not for that shot.  Other plays hurt us: Brewer missing 2 Free Throws, fouling LeBron multiple times for 3-point plays, etc.  But Price got the Jazz back in the game.  After re-watching the game, I did noticed that LeBron took 4 steps to hit that 3 pointer after he missed his Free Throw.  Gotta love the NBA not calling travelling on the Superstars.

I can’t believe that Korver made his shot from behind the backboard to bring the Jazz within 1.  I thought that shot had no chance.  The other shot I thought had no chance?  A rookie’s first NBA 3 point attempt with 2 seconds left to win the game.  Well…it went in. (I could watch this video for hours)

Other noteworthy items: Why did CJ Miles hoist up a contested, unnecessary 3 pointer with :30ish left in the game from 4 feet beyond the arc?  CJ went 3/8 on the night and jacked up 4 contested shots.  Awesome.  LeBron was limited to only 5 points on 1 for 5 shooting in the first half.  AK played some excellent defense on him.  Conversely, LeBron scored 20 in the 4th quarter alone.  Gaines’ winning 3 pointer was his first ever in an NBA game.  You don’t get much more clutch than that.

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