Sundiata Gaines Slays The King. Jazz Beat The Cavaliers 97-96

by Basketball John on Jan 15, 2010 3:08 AM MST in Game Recaps Comment 15 comments

Damn, we needed that one.

Best regular season game ever for the Jazz?

Don't know what else to say about this game. Let's break down the last 6 minutes...

A 21-6 run has given the Jazz a 76-66 lead with 5:56 left in the game

5:40 - A steal by Boozer only to throw it away a second later

5:25 - Another steal by the Jazz but Matthews gets trapped under the basket and travels on the fast break.

5:10 - C.J. Miles gets the steal and goes coast to coast for the jam and the 78-66 lead. Jazz fans are flying high right now.

4:50 - Shaq gets fouled and goes 1-2 from the FT line. Jazz still up 78-67.

4:39 - Boozer gets fouled and makes two FT to give the Jazz their biggest lead, 80-67.

4:18 - Juwad Williams is fouled and makes two. Jazz still in control, 80-69.

3:34 - The Jazz and Cavs exchange free-throws with Millsap missing one. Jazz are up 83-71 still. Boozer made the last two FTs after Gaines looks like he's getting the yips. He almost turned it over driving into traffic, losing the ball, and then diving and getting it to Booze.

This is where things start falling apart and LBJ goes into god mode.

3:26 - LeBron James brings it up and this is where Mike Brown's non-play calling ability favors the Cavs. It's all LBJ as he pulls up for three and nails it. Jazz still up 9, 83-74.

3:13 - I'm surprised Gaines isn't pulling a McNabb and puking all over the place. He really looks affected and turns the ball over when he gets doubled beyond the arc.

3:07 - LeBron shifts past god mode and blows by CJ for the dunk and the foul. CJ is summarily yanked by Sloan. Jazz still up 83-77.

2:58 - Mo Williams finally gets a foul called on him after hounding Gaines again. Sundiata goes 1-2 from the line as his first attempt barely scrapes iron.

2:30 - LeBron James drives on Brewer and gets the foul call. No wait, it was Boozer called for the foul away from the ball on Varejao. Bob makes both, Cavs pull within 5, 84-79.

2:16 - After a couple of Brewer FTs, LBJ drives on the other end and gets another AND-1. Start creating worlds on the side.

2:04 - Matthews makes 1-2 FTs after he was fouled. Ronnie Price comes back in for Gaines and Yatta gets the standing O. Jazz up 85-82.

James has Matthews one-on-one if he wants to take him but it looks like the Cavs want a three. James passes it to Anthony Parker who misses a three-point attempt.

After Ronnie P rebounds the miss, Boozer gets called for the forearm to the back of LeBron on the next possession.

LeBron then melts everything within a 5-miles radius into liquid hot MAG-MA.

1:15 - After making the first free-throw after another drive and foul, LeBron misses the second and gets it back. He takes a step(s)-back jumper from three and nails it. The Cavs now lead, 86-85.

1:02 - Ronnie Price turns the ball over. That's probably going to be the ball game.

:40.2 - LeBron James just killed Chuck Norris. After dribbling out the clock, James nails a three-pointer going to his right. Cavs go up 89-85. My comment, "We just got LBJd"

And that's when I wanted to turn off the game. Why I kept watching, I don't know. I'm guessing that's when a lot of the fans at the ESA left as well. I start preparing my recap by searching for a LBJ pic and start thinking about how I can discount this loss.

:32.5 - C.J. jacks up a three with lots of time left on the shot clock. Ill-advised yes. But maybe we don't have enough time left in the game to get the ending we did.

Boozer fouls LeBron on the rebound and LBJ makes two. Boozer fouls out as the Jazz are now down 91-85.

Why am I still watching?

:29 - Ronnie Price makes a three from the top of the arc. Why do the Jazz have to torture and tease me at the same time? Jazz pull within 3, 91-88.

:23 - After Anthony Parker makes two FTs, Ronnie P drives and gets Mo Williams to foul him. Turns out to be big as Mo fouls out. The Cavs will miss him late in this game. Ronnie P makes both FTs and the Jazz are down 93-90. Price had been shooting 56% (10-18) on the year so far.

:22.2 - The Cavs have to call a TO after trying to inbound the ball. Good denying by the Jazz. Anthony Parker gets a trip to the FT line and front-rims the first one.

So you're telling me there's a chance?

Jazz still down 94-90.

:15.7 - Probably the most underrated moment of the game. The Jazz are getting trapped on the three-point line and the ball swings to Millsap near the sideline past the three point line. He fakes and dribbles left and gets tripped up by Delonte West.

This stops the clock and puts Millsap on the line where he nails two FTs. West had no business playing Millsap so close on that one. Paul's only made one three-pointer in his career.

Jazz down 94-92.

:15.1 - Anthony Parker misses another free throw. He only converts one of two and cracks open the door for the Jazz as they're only up 95-92.

:5.9 - After Price drives again, he gets his shot blocked out of bounds to the right of the basket. The Jazz struggle to inbound the ball but they finally get it in to Kyle Korver near the baseline. He has two Cavs players on him and he shoots falling out of bounds, over the backboard. It hits front rim, backboard, and then settles in.

Probably the second-biggest shot of this game. If he misses that, the Cavs get the rebound and we're down two possessions.

As it is though, the Jazz are within 1, 95-94.

We also see Sundiata Gaines check back in. That might be important later.

:5.6 - The Jazz do another great job defending the inbounds pass. The Cavs have to take another TO and get the ball at half-court.

Another unheralded play by Gaines here. He fronts Anthony Parker well and denies him the pass. They inbound to Big Z who is fouled.

Then all the prayers in Utah are answered and Z misses one of two free throws. The Jazz now have almost an eternity of 5.6 seconds to either tie or win the game.

The announcers mentioned earlier that the Jazz hadn't used their last 20-second timeout on their last possessions. As it turns out, if they hadn't saved that, they would have had to go the length of the floor after those free throws.

Instead, we get what is probably the best regular-season finish in Jazz history and jazz folklore is made as Sundiata Gaines nails the game-winning three pointer as time expires. Not bad for a guy that was freezing his butt off in Idaho last week.

After watching the replay for the 765th time, I'm still getting chills. You start to pick up on things like the awkward celebration from the Jazz fans that are courtside.

Then you see Jerry Sloan give the same reaction off the bench as he gave when John Stockton sent the Jazz to the NBA finals.

If you're looking for a turning point, this just. may. be. it.

Just when the fans and probably the Jazz were at one of the lowest lows, they take us to mass euphoria.

I can't think of many things that could overshadow LeBron's performance tonight. He put on a show in the final minutes that the we've only seen him do before against other teams and think, "Thank goodness that wasn't us."

He had that tonight and it was taken away by a 10-day contract player. Perhaps it was fitting then that it was LeBron that was under the basket watching the ball sail true and stick a dagger in the king's heart.

Other notes

Fear The Sword
Cavs the Blog
For the Love of the Game
Matt Moore
Disney just bought the rights to the Sundiata Gaines story
Do these lyrics apply?
Eric Maynor who?
Overlooked in the game was Korver's block on LeBron James. Highlight of the game to that point.
TNT just lost their rights to broadcast NBA games as they talk about LeBron and traveling.
As mentioned in the preview/game thread, the Achilles heel of the Cavs are free throw shooting and turnovers. They had 21 TOs and 10 missed FTs including three down the stretch.
Weird that Deron and AK's injuries are afterthoughts to this game. Hopefully they come out okay and don't miss games.
Jazz shot just 40% for the game but were blistering in the fourth. The Jazz shot 70% (12-17) and had 42 points. The Cavs had 36. 78 points in a quarter. Wow.
Gaines with 9 points in 9 minutes in the fourth on 3-3 shooting.
I don't know if anything else really matters from this game so long as Deron is okay.

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"so long as Deron is okay...."

ahem—and AK as well. haha.

i had two of the exact same thoughts as you —

1) that jerry’s reaction was the same as after stock’s shot
2) EUPHORIA. that’s the word that’s been running through my head all day.

by moni on Jan 15, 2010 6:58 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

As a D-League follower, nothing makes me happier than seeing a god guy like Sundiata talk full advantage of a 10-day

and then some. Here’s an article from SBN’s D-League blog:

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2010/1/15/1252571/sundiata-gaines-d-league-long-shot

Blogging at Ridiculous Upside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Jan 15, 2010 7:45 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

1:15 - After making the first free-throw after another drive and foul, LeBron misses the second and gets it back. He takes a step(s)-back jumper from three and nails it. The Cavs now lead, 86-85.

such a heinous travel. this would have hurt worse than the mockery that was the officiating at the end of the thunder game had we lost.

by bigdog'sshades on Jan 15, 2010 8:18 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Video

Slcdunk I should have the last 6 minutes or so up on you tube hd by lunch hd takes a little longer obviously. Amazing Simple and Yes this is the best regular season game of all time and ranks number 2 on my Jazz list behind “John Stockton Send the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals”.

by No Guts No Glory on Jan 15, 2010 8:50 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Awesome

Looking forward to it.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Jan 15, 2010 9:40 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

amazing

They need to get the last 30 seconds onto an NBA Amazing commercial. Perfect offensive execution by the Jazz. 12 points in 30 seconds. 2 threes, 4 free throws, 1 HORSE shot. Proving that when your opponent misses a few free throws you always have a chance.

Like you I am glad I did not turn off the TV with 32 seconds left and Jazz down by 6. Proving that you should never turn off or walk out when there is still hope.

by rockandroel on Jan 15, 2010 9:42 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Pic

BTW, the above picture is my new background. I love it, especially LBJ just standing in the corner looking helpless!

8 Hours To Kill is now on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/8hourstokill

by BC7 on Jan 15, 2010 12:48 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

What a roller coaster ride

What a moment to end it.

by bdunc8 on Jan 15, 2010 1:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I thought that game was over when we couldn’t hold on to the 11 point lead by making our freakin freethrows and then james went nuts….

Holy awesome for Gaines though

Also i think i’ts important not to overlook Korver’s great shot over the backboard while falling out of bounds.

Last comment, STOP PUTTING IN CJ MILES WITH THE GAME ON THE LINE. HE KEEPS TAKING STUPID SHOTS! 19 seconds left and down by 4 and he throws up a three.

Last Last comment, I don’t think it was the best regular season game for the jazz though. The shot was awesome and def is up there but there are af ew i still remember. Like a few years ago the suns were up by 20 + points and the jazz rallied back in the 4th and won it. Derek Fisher coming in and hitting his three after being out of town. There are a few karl/john games too. Still though amazing.

For the Love of the Game

by ForTheLove on Jan 15, 2010 1:14 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Fisher's game was in the playoffs.

And apparently the team was as happy after the win as they ever have been. I can’t think of a game that tops it, personally.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Jan 16, 2010 7:58 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

How about another useless post game stat?

I wonder if it’s even possible to count the number of times Labraun traveled and did NOT get called for it?

His step back three, when Kyle blocked his shot against the board….. Those two stick out in my mind, and on available replay’s.

Also Kyle Korver deserves a massive high five as his over the backboard shot provided the opportunity for Gains to deliver the game winner. How that shot went in is still amazing.

SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!

by RRR on Jan 15, 2010 2:16 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

This should Help

SLC Dunk #1 Jazz Site in the world!

by RRR on Jan 15, 2010 3:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

MOST EXCITING GAME....

That was seriously the most exciting game since I don’t know when.

I was also impressed by some D mainly in the 3rd qtr.

Kudos to Jerry on substitution.

LOL@ Boozer shoving ppl around on the offensive end.

by iLoveBooks100per on Jan 15, 2010 2:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

HAVENT SEEN THIS IN OUR GUYS!

The Jazzmen stuck together and played their hearts out. I think the Price-Matthews-Gaines syndrome has spread thru the team, we are playing with purpose. Team D is giving us opportunities to win ball games, and maybe just maybe we can believe in this team again.

We as a Jazznation expected the usual collapse at the end but they had the guts and we all basked in the glory!

Congrats Gaines…you da man!

by UtonganKidInCali on Jan 15, 2010 2:56 PM MST reply actions 0 recs