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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The unheralded Cleveland Cavaliers hustled their way to a sixth straight victory Saturday night.
|  | | Karl Malone, left, scored just 13 points on 4-for-17 shooting under the tight defense of Clarence Weatherspoon. |
With Andre Miller scoring 22 points and Clarence Weatherspoon
getting 15 points and 12 rebounds, the Cavaliers (15-7) might also
have finally gained some respect and recognition with a 99-92
victory over the Utah Jazz.
"Yeah, we got some respect from them," Miller said. "But we got a long, long way to go before we can even think that we've accomplished something."
Reserve Chris Gatling, who scored 11 points for Cleveland, was
more outspoken.
"Everybody says we are this, we are that," Gatling said. "How much more do we have to do? I think a lot of people now know we are for real."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan thought so.
"They did a great job," he said of the Cavs. "It's good for
basketball to see a team try to do it the right way."
That "way" started with tenacious defense.
Utah's Karl Malone, hounded all night by Weatherspoon, scored
only 13 points and shot 4-for-17 from the field. John Stockton led
the Jazz with 18 points.
"It's the same old story," Malone said. "When I play good, we
have an opportunity to win. When I don't, our chances go down.
"I had some chances, but they played with a lot of fire. They were more aggressive."
Weatherspoon's play at both ends of the court midway through the
final quarter carried Cleveland. He scored on a layup and seconds
later made one of two free throws to give the Cavs an 82-77 lead.
He then blocked a shot by Malone. Seconds later, Weatherspoon
tipped away a pass intended for the perennial All-Star. That led to
an uncontested layup by Matt Harpring and an 84-77 Cavs advantage.
"It was nothing personal," Weatherspoon said. "I take pride in playing everybody. Against Utah, you have to stay on a high level all the way."
Cavs coach Randy Wittman said Weatherspoon did exactly that.
"No question that 'Spoon's defense was huge," Wittman said.
"He really played Malone by himself. Anytime you can do that
without a lot of double-teaming help, it is going to pay off."
Cleveland continued to apply defensive pressure as Zydrunas
Ilgauskas knocked away a pass by Stockton. Miller promptly drove to
the basket for a three-point play that put Cleveland up 87-77 with
5:01 left.
Cleveland made 14 of 15 free throws in the third quarter, which
ended with a 44-foot shot by Lamond Murray that put the Cavs ahead
71-63.
Utah trailed 79-71 when a flagrant foul by Wesley Person on
Jacque Vaughn gave the Jazz life. Vaughn made both free throws and
Malone followed with a scoop shot to pull Utah within 79-75.
Then Weatherspoon and the Cleveland defense took over.
Game notes
The grind of back-to-back games took a toll on each team.
Utah's Bryon Russell sat out with a strained groin and Cleveland's
Robert Traylor did not play because of a strained back. Both were
hurt Friday night and are listed as day-to-day. ... Forward J.R.
Reid, who has battled tendinitis in both knees, played his first
game since being acquired by Cleveland in June. He played 10
minutes, with no points and two rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
New Jersey 89
Atlanta 83
Charlotte 99
Boston 87
Cleveland 99
Utah 92
Minnesota 113
Indiana 110
Philadelphia 99
Chicago 91
Denver 102
Houston 100
San Antonio 90
Phoenix 82
Miami 93
Golden State 85
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Karl Malone Official Site
Bryon Russell Official Site
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