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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 28, 2010

Utah hands Wizards 15th consecutive loss


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Mehmet Okur

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WASHINGTON — The Utah Jazz put a disappointing loss at Indiana behind them in a hurry with a timely game against the Washington Wizards.

Mehmet Okur had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Deron Williams added 20 points and 12 assists, and Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 10 rebounds in Utah's 103-87 victory over Washington last night.

Washington has lost a team-record 15 straight games, and is 0-for-March. The last victory came on Feb. 28 against NBA-worst New Jersey.

Utah closed within a half-game of Denver for the Northwest Division lead. The Jazz are 29-9 since Jan. 9.

"We expected to be at the top of the West," guard Deron Williams said. "Now, we're playing better basketball, and we've got a different confidence. We're a better team than we were three months ago."

TRAIL BLAZERS 112, HORNETS 101

Brandon Roy scored 28 points as visiting Portland strengthened its hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western conference, while eliminating New Orleans from playoff contention.

BULLS 106, NETS 83

Jannero Pargo scored 27 points and Taj Gibson had 22 points and 13 rebounds as host Chicago routed New Jersey to move to 1 1/2 games behind Toronto for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

LAKERS 109, ROCKETS 101

Pau Gasol scored 30 points and visiting Los Angeles finished the first half with a 20-0 run for a 62-54 halftime lead to beat Houston, one night after a terrible outing in a 91-75 loss at Oklahoma City.

MAVERICKS 111, WARRIORS 90

Rodrigue Beaubois made 9 of 11 3-pointers en route to a career-high 40 points, Shawn Marion added 18 points, and visiting Dallas beat Golden State to snap a two-game losing streak.

OVER AND BACK

Suns: Phoenix center Robin Lopez stayed home because of a back injury when the team left for a five-game road trip. An MRI exam yesterday showed a bulging disk, and the 7-footer will see a back specialist tomorrow.

Wizards: A day after Gilbert Arenas was sentenced to 30 days in a halfway house for bringing guns into the Washington Wizards' locker room, team president Ernie Grunfeld reaffirmed that Arenas will be back with the club next season.

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