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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
HOUSTON (AP) -- With Karl Malone struggling, Donyell Marshall
stepped up for the Utah Jazz.
Marshall scored 20 points and the Jazz used a big second-half
run to end a five-game skid and beat the Houston Rockets 99-97
Saturday night.
Malone shot 3-of-16 and scored 14 points for the Jazz.
"I have to do more for the team when he is struggling,"
Marshall said. "He got us the open shots when they were double
teaming him. He found the open people and we were able to
connect."
Trailing 72-71 with 1:13 left in the third quarter, Utah went on
a 25-8 run to take a 16-point lead with 5:48 left. Marshall and
Jacque Vaughn each had six points in the run.
"Donyell Marshall really adds a lot to their team. He's a
tremendous offensive rebounder. He's so long and active," Rockets
coach Rudy Tomjanovich said.
Houston made a late charge, pulling to 97-94 after a pair of
free throws by Matt Bullard with 1:41 left.
But the Rockets then missed two 3-point shots before Vaughn hit
a pair of free throws with four seconds left to secure the win.
Steve Francis hit a 3-pointer for Houston at the buzzer to close
the scoring.
"We stopped a little bit of the bleeding," Utah coach Jerry
Sloan said. "We played harder tonight than in the past few games.
Even though we let it get close at the end, it's a win."
Byron Russell scored 17 points for the Jazz and John Stockton
added 16.
Malone, who has scored more than 20 points in only one of his
last seven games, is optimistic that his play will improve.
"I've been getting decent shots, I don't think I should drop my
head because I'm not making shots," he said. "There is no doubt
in my mind that sooner or later I'm going to come out of my little
slump."
Shandon Anderson led Houston with 21 points. Francis added 17,
Cuttino Mobley had 14 and Maurice Taylor and Moochie Norris
finished with 12 each.
Houston has lost eight of its last 10 home games.
Game notes
Francis is the only player in the NBA to lead his team in
rebounding (198), assists (189) and points (582). ... Houston has
used eight starting lineups in 33 games this season. ... Utah is
15-3 when Malone scores at least 20 points and 5-10 when he scores
under 20. ... Hakeem Olajuwon did not dress because of a swollen
right knee.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Houston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Dallas 103
Washington 85
Atlanta 83
Orlando 82
Philadelphia 107
Cleveland 103
Miami 112
Boston 86
New Jersey 97
Golden State 92
Utah 99
Houston 97
San Antonio 108
Detroit 101
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Rudy Tomjanovich Official Site
Karl Malone Official Site
Bryon Russell Official Site
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