Jazz 95, Hawks 83

<p>The Utah Jazz had the right opponent in town to avoid losing five straight at home for the first time in 23 years.</p><p>The Atlanta Hawks were welcome guests as the Jazz ended a four-game home losing streak, beating the Hawks 95-83 Wednesday night</p><p>"We were just cutting and moving a little more tonight. We weren't as hesitant to pass the ball," said Matt Harpring, who led the Jazz with 30 points.</p><p>Andrei Kirilenko scored 14 points and matched his career high with 10 assists, while reserve Milt Palacio had 10 points and nine assists for the Jazz.</p><p>Utah also had 29 assists on 38 field goals, scoring 52 points inside instead of forcing long shots.</p><p>"Tonight we were able to execute our offense and get the ball where we wanted it to go," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "Those are the things we have to learn how to do. Let the other team make the mistakes."</p><p>Atlanta made plenty. The Hawks committed 21 turnovers and unraveled in the second half after trailing by a point at halftime. At 2-16, the Hawks are off to the worst start in team history _ even worse than their 3-15 record after 18 games a year ago.</p><p>Atlanta has lost seven straight, going 0-3 on a swing through Phoenix, Denver and Utah.</p><p>"This team shows you how the game should be played because they pass and cut and move the basketball," Atlanta coach Mike Woodson said of the Jazz.</p><p>Joe Johnson scored 19 and Salim Stoudamire added 15 points for Atlanta, which was coming off a loss the night before at Denver. The Hawks had 30 assists Tuesday against the Nuggets, but finished with just nine Wednesday.</p><p>"That's the difference in the game. We don't want to share the ball," Woodson said.</p><p>Utah was just 2-7 in the Delta Center entering Wednesday and hadn't won at home since beating Milwaukee 100-80 on Nov. 21. With the Jazz leading by a point at halftime, Harpring took over in the third quarter against Atlanta, the city where he grew up and went to college.</p><p>Harpring was 13-for-17 and led Utah to a 52-percent shooting night.</p><p>"If he gets the ball where he can catch it and shoot it, that's very effective," Sloan said. "Guys set screens for him. The game's fairly simple."</p><p>Harpring started a 14-4 run in the third quarter with a reverse layup, then back-to-back jumpers. Later in the run he hit another jumper to put Utah up 66-57, took an offensive foul from Zaza Pachulia and hit another jump shot at the other end.</p><p>Atlanta got within 11 in the fourth quarter, then Utah scored the next nine points, including two layups from Harpring.</p><p>Harpring's season high was 21 and he missed his career-best scoring night by three points. He probably could have had that, but sat out the last few minutes with the Jazz in control. Harpring had knee surgery after last season and the Jazz have gradually increased his playing time.</p><p>Kirilenko, who is still coming off the bench after missing seven games with a sprained ankle, finished with three blocks.</p><p>"They played hard, but I don't think they believed they can win the game because they start so bad," Kirilenko said.</p><p>Notes:@ The Jazz finished with a 37-29 rebounding advantage. ... Al Harrington scored 11 points for Atlanta before fouling out with 6:40 left in the game. ... The Hawks were playing the second of two games without Josh Smith, who was suspended for throwing an elbow. ... Jarron Collins had 10 rebounds and Greg Ostertag pulled down eight boards for Utah.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/12/134124