Jazz Reaches the Top, but It’s Not Easy

After playing catch-up nearly all season, the Utah Jazz have made it to the top of the Western Conference standings.

Not only that, Utah (50-17) is only half a game behind the Chicago Bulls (51-17), along with the Western Conference co-leading Seattle SuperSonics (50-17), for the NBA’s best record.

The Jazz did it by outlasting the Knicks, 124-119, Sunday in double overtime at New York.

Karl Malone led the Jazz with 30 points and 14 rebounds. Adam Keefe added a season-high 25 points.

“We’re not satisfied with anything yet,” Malone said. “We have a lot of work left to do.”

John Starks scored 26 points and Allan Houston had 25 for the Knicks, who blew several chances to come away with a crucial victory in their quest to make the playoffs.

New York blew an early 17-point lead and a seven-point lead late in regulation. Houston missed what could have been a winning free throw with 1.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and Starks missed a shot at the buzzer in the first overtime.

San Antonio 93, Phoenix 83--Tim Duncan scored 26 points and grabbed 21 rebounds and Chuck Person sank three of his four three-point shots during a 22-8 third-quarter run as the Spurs won a possible preview of a first-round playoff series at San Antonio.

It was the Spurs’ first victory in four meetings this season against Phoenix, which dropped into fifth place in Western Conference.

Rex Chapman led the Suns with 30 points.

Washington 102, New Jersey 100--Chris Webber scored 25 points and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 27.6 seconds left in overtime, then gave the Nets the choke sign as he walked off the court after the Wizards’ victory at East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory not only moved the Wizards (35-33) ahead of New Jersey (35-34) and into a tie with Orlando for the eighth and final playoff position in the Eastern Conference, but Washington also took the season series, 3-1, giving it the tiebreaker advantage.

Keith Van Horn led New Jersey with 29 points. Van Horn, however, turned the ball over on a traveling call with the Nets trailing, 99-98, with 16.8 seconds left in overtime. His last-second shot then missed the rim.

Orlando 92, Golden State 83--Bo Outlaw had 22 points and seven rebounds as the Magic won without Nick Anderson (pulled hamstring) at Orlando, moving into a tie with Washington for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Chicago 102, Toronto 100--Michael Jordan made a short jump shot with 5.4 seconds left to give the Bulls a victory at Toronto.

Scottie Pippen also had 33 points and Dennis Rodman grabbed 18 rebounds for the Bulls, who had blown a 12-point lead midway through the final quarter.

Indiana 96, Milwaukee 94--Reggie Miller scored 32 points and Rik Smits converted a key three-point play in overtime as the Pacers defeated the reeling Bucks at Milwaukee.

Ray Allen had 25 points, but the Bucks lost their ninth in a row.

Miami 112, Portland 80--Mark Strickland scored 23 points as a reserve on 11-for-14 shooting at Miami as the Heat swept the season series against the Trail Blazers for the first time in franchise history.

The injury-depleted Heat did suffer a setback, however, as forward P.J. Brown sprained his left ankle in the second quarter. He did not return.

Boston 108, Philadelphia 90--Dana Barros had 27 points, nine rebounds and nine assists at Boston as the Celtics snapped a season-high, six-game losing streak. Theo Ratliff led the 76ers with 27 points.

Detroit 105, Atlanta 98--Joe Dumars scored nine of his 16 points during a key fourth-quarter stretch to lead the Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich. Steve Smith had 22 points for Atlanta.