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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Karl Malone is back in stride and Donyell
Marshall is starting to look comfortable in Utah's starting lineup.
|  | | Jazz forward David Benoit drove against Pacers center Jermaine O'Neal during Utah's victory Tuesday night. |
Malone scored 35 points and had 10 rebounds while Marshall added
23 points and nine rebounds in his second straight start as the
Jazz beat the Indiana Pacers 103-99 Tuesday night, ending Utah's
four-game homecourt losing streak.
Malone scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and showed signs
he has recovered from a nagging injury to his lower back. And when
the Pacers focused on Malone, Marshall made them pay.
"It's just a matter of getting more confident in the system and
getting a chance to feed off Karl," Marshall said. "He's going
to get double-teamed a lot and he's real good at kicking it out."
Seven of Marshall's nine rebounds were offensive, validating
last summer's trade that brought him from Golden State for Adam
Keefe. Howard Eisley went to Dallas in the deal.
"Donyell's starting to pick up the scheme of things, what we're
trying to do with the defensive assignments and things like that,"
Malone said. "He's a great offensive rebounder. He keeps the ball
alive."
Reggie Miller led Indiana with 30 points, including a late
3-pointer that brought the Pacers within 98-95.
But John Starks, a Pacers nemesis during his days with the New
York Knicks, made two free throws. Jalen Rose scored twice at the
other end, but John Stockton hit 3-of-4 free throws before Miller
missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"The Jazz did a good job in transition, stopping our fast-break
as well as getting out and getting some easy shots," Miller said.
"That's really where the momentum changed."
Rose scored 21 and Jermaine O'Neal had 20 for Indiana.
Stockton had 15 for the Jazz and Starks added 12.
Utah extended an 88-83 lead late in the fourth quarter as
seldom-used David Benoit scored two baskets during a 6-0 burst that
gave the Jazz a 94-83 lead with 2:04 remaining.
Russell didn't dress after suffering a small bone chip and
spraining his right ankle last weekend at Houston. He's listed as
doubtful for Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Jazz didn't miss him, thanks to Marshall. He had 15 points
at halftime and seemed to spend his time on the offensive end
around the basket, either setting up a shot or chasing a rebound.
"He had a lot of key offensive rebounds," Miller said. "It
wasn't necessarily the quantity but it's when he got them. Every
time they missed a free throw or a bad shot, he always seemed to
come up with the rebound."
In his first start in the victory over the Rockets, Marshall
scored 20 points and collected 15 rebounds.
"Donyell's shooting the ball better because he's doing a good
job of looking for the kind of shots that are worthwhile," said
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "When he first came here, he was looking
for 3-pointers all the time."
It didn't hurt Utah's chances that Malone has pulled out of a
recent slump. He scored 33 in a loss last week at Denver and was
back in his top form against the Pacers.
Game notes
The teams traded 3-pointers just before halftime, with
Miller hitting the first and Marshall answering just before the
buzzer. Indiana led 49-46. ... Olden Polynice needs two steals to
reach 500 in his 14-year career. ... The Jazz are 16-3 when Malone
scores at least 20 points and 4-10 when he's held under 20. ...
Greg Ostertag had 10 rebounds. ... The Pacers fell to 4-15 against
teams with winning records.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Indiana Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 102
Chicago 95
Houston 110
Toronto 91
Seattle 95
Atlanta 86
Philadelphia 104
New Jersey 87
Milwaukee 99
Washington 95
San Antonio 112
Orlando 95
Utah 103
Indiana 99
Denver 112
Vancouver 105
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Karl Malone Official Site
Bryon Russell Official Site
Reggie Miller Official Site
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