supersonics 106, Jazz 92
supersonics 106, Jazz 92 [ＮＢＡ赛况]BY JANIE MCCAULEY
Associated Press
Mar. 26, 2002 2:03 p.m.
SEATTLE (AP) — Rashard Lewis scored 11 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Utah Jazz 106-92 Monday night to hold onto their playoff position in the West.
It was Seattle's first win over Utah in more than two years.
Lewis also grabbed seven rebounds in the final quarter. Gary Payton added 24 points and seven assists, and Brent Barry had 18 points and six assists for the Sonics, who entered with a half-game lead over the Jazz for seventh place in the Western Conference.
Karl Malone had 24 points, six steals and five rebounds for Utah, which is battling to stay ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers for the conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
The Jazz, who had won four of five, got 17 points and nine assists from John Stockton a night before his 40th birthday. Bryon Russell added 16 for Utah and substitute Andrei Kirilenko had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Sonics coach Nate McMillan wanted his team to force Utah to shoot from outside, and the plan worked for much of the game. The Jazz shot 40.3 percent, including 4-for-13 from 3-point range.
Utah had won eight straight games against Seattle, including three meetings this season. The Jazz beat the Sonics with big second-half runs in all three wins. The Sonics' last win over the Jazz was 104-96 on Feb. 1, 2000.
Utah shot 36.4 percent in the first half and had no players in double figures, but outscored Seattle 16-7 to open the second half. Stockton scored five and Malone six in the spurt and the Jazz pulled to 76-69 going into the fourth quarter.
Jazz forward Donyell Marshall left the game with 6:46 remaining in the first quarter after aggravating a left calf injury he sustained Friday against Washington.
The Sonics, who lead the league in field