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Hawks fall short to Jazz, 100-94
Utah wins 14th straight at home
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Atlanta Hawks guard Josh Smith (5) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer (5) during the first quarter of their game Saturday in Salt Lake City. - photo by AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac

SALT LAKE CITY -- Carlos Boozer had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Utah Jazz hold off Atlanta 100-94 on Saturday night for their 14th straight home victory.

Kyle Korver scored 13 points, including six free throws in the final 20.4 seconds to help clinch the win.

Josh Smith, who led Atlanta with 30 points, converted a three-point play with 1:58 remaining to get the Hawks within 90-88. But Boozer and Mehmet Okur made layups on the next two possessions by the Jazz and the Hawks were then forced to foul Korver.

Mike Bibby had 18 points and nine assists despite foul trouble and Marvin Williams added 16 for the Hawks, who close their stretch of six straight road games on Monday in San Antonio.

With Atlanta down by 16 in the fourth quarter, Johnson hit a pair of 3-pointers among 13 consecutive points that brought the Hawks to 82-79.

Dragging for most of the game after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, the Jazz flashed a sudden burst of energy as they clung to a 64-62 lead. Boozer sparked the 14-2 run with a slam and Ronnie Price capped it with a 3-pointer on the first play of the fourth quarter. All other field goals in the spurt were dunks and layups.

Price, who scored 10 points and had four assists, sparked the Jazz's languid offense as Utah outscored the Hawks by 16 points in the 15 minutes he was on the floor.

The Jazz have won 14 of their last 16 games overall and won this one by dominating in the paint, outscoring the Hawks inside 60-40, and forcing the road-weary Hawks into 22 turnovers. Utah turned those miscues into 25 points, while Atlanta garnered just seven points off 12 turnovers.

The Jazz led by as many as 19 in the first half as the sloppy Hawks turned the ball over 15 times. But the Hawks closed the period with a flurry of 3-pointers, capped by Josh Smith's buzzer-beater from 30 feet to close the gap to 47-40.

Before Atlanta surprised Golden State 117-100 on Friday night, the Hawks had lost six in a row.

Joe Johnson had 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to nearly notch a triple-double.


Notes:@ The Hawks beat the Jazz in their previous meeting this season in Atlanta, 116-111, on Dec. 17, but the Jazz have won 14 straight against the Hawks in Salt Lake City. Dominique Wilkins scored 43 points on Feb 13, 1993 to lead Atlanta to its last win here, 121-112.

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