TORONTO: The Utah Jazz needed three extra time periods yesterday but finally locked up their first road win of the NBA season, 140-133 over the Toronto Raptors.
Jazz center Al Jefferson hit game-tying shots to send the contest to a first extra period and then a second.
He scored 24 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, while Paul Millsap scored a season-high 34 points for a Jazz team that had lost their first four road games.
“It took us a long time, but we finally got it going,” said Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin.
Mo Williams made his return after sitting out Utah’s last game against the Suns with an injury. He posted a double-double with 17 points and 14 assists.
Toronto led by 11 in the fourth quarter, but lost their fourth straight. DeMar DeRozan matched his career-high with 37 points on 16-of-33 shooting, but Toronto were outscored 15-8 in the last over-time.
Jose Calderon, playing in place of injured Kyle Lowry, scored 20 points with 17 assists for the Raptors, who were also without regular starter Landry Fields. Fields missed his second straight game with an injured wrist.
“They went out there short-handed, but the guys played hard and left it all on the floor,” said Toronto coach Dwane Casey.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers sprang a surprise yesterday by naming former Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni to replace Mike Brown.
Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson had been widely expected to come out of retirement to lead the Lakers for a third time but the Lakers instead opted for the offense-minded D’Antoni.
Agencies
