 "Photo: Maegan Burr")
Those in attendance of Monday night's rematch of 2007's Western Conference Finals certainly got their money's worth.
Playoff tickets are usually twice as much.
Technically, the Utah Jazz's 97-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs counts for the 27th win of the season and their 11th of the past 13, but the atmosphere suggested otherwise.
"This is a great day for us," said Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, who scored 23 points with seven rebounds. "We did a good job playing against a very good team," We don't wanna make too much out of it but it's a step in the right direction."
A sold-out EnergySolutions Arena cheered and jeered nearly every call, non-call and things not really worth making a fuss about, like when visiting Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona appeared on the big screen during a third-quarter timeout. For the record, Francona received mostly boos.
From the end of the second quarter and nearly the entire second half the crowd seemed to will the Jazz to a win, whether it be sparking energetic play from forward Andrei Kirilenko -- who scored 23 pointsor by swaying the referees' calls, who decidedly let the teams get physical for the most part.
"The Jazz has always been a hard-working team...they're aggressive" Spurs' headcoach Gregg Popovich said. "They're physical. They're known for it."
Up seven points with 6:51 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Spurs mounting a final push, Jazz point guard Deron Williams connected with Kirilenko for an alley-oop dunk. The Spurs rattled off a 7-2 run to come within four with under five minutes left.
Williams hit a driving layup and then fed Boozer for one of his 14 assists for a dunk, but Spurs guard Manu Ginobli -- who ended up with a game-high 29 points off the bench -- answered each Jazz basket with a three-pointer and layup of his own.
The man in the middle for the Spurs -- recently-selected All-Star forward Tim Duncan -- followed Ginobli's lead and hit a short hook shot for the last of his 26 points. The pivotal shot brought the Spurs within two with just 1:30 to go.
After a second technical foul and a subsequent ejection was given to Spurs swingman Ime Udoka, Korver hit the resulting free throw and the crowd's frenzy hit a crescendo, setting up the game's climax.
Jazz sharpshooter Kyle Korver seized an open-look opportunity and fired a 3-point shot from the corner, but he missed to a loud chorus of groans. Matt Harpring rebounded the ball to keep the possession and seconds later, Korver got another 3-point attempt from the opposite side. The resulting swishgave the Jazz a 95-89 lead, sending the house into pandemonium.
"Shooting is a lot about confidence," Korver said of his willingness to shoot the second 3-pointer following a miss. "If you get a few shots out of the way, like free throws, that helps you a little. It's just a (certain) mentality."
Korver said he is in awe of Utah's other current sharpshooter -- Kirilenko.
"I've watched him from afar before, but never really realized how good he is," Korver said. "He is playing unbelievable basketball right now."
Kirilenko shot a scorching 9-of-10 including a reverse dunk off of a break-away steal from Ginobli. Late in the second quarter, Williams stole the ball for a fastbreak layup but missed. The Russian chased it down for a rebound and a put-back dunk in one motion.
Duncan summed it up for his Spurs, who have lost six of the past 11 games.
"(Utah) got some great performances from Andrei, a big shot from Kyle down the stretch," he said. "We just kept digging ourselves holes and we'd fight back but couldn't get over the hump."
j.peterson@chronicle.utah.edu
