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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – After leading the Utah Jazz
to another playoff berth, Karl Malone is happy the postseason
doesn't start tomorrow.
|  | | Karl Malone takes aim over Ike Austin in the first half. |
"We're not ready. Not yet," Malone said after the Jazz secured
their 18th straight postseason berth on Sunday with a 92-73 victory
over the Vancouver Grizzlies on Sunday.
Malone scored 31 points, and the Jazz used a 16-point third
quarter to break open a close contest.
The fact the Jazz continue to rely on a 38-year-old in Malone to
carry them though a tough stretch also has coach Jerry Sloan
concerned.
"Karl picked it up a notch, but he's does that so frequently,"
Sloan said. "We've all ridden him for a long time. Sure he doesn't
have the energy at his age. But at this stage of his career, he
still enjoys playing.
"I don't know why young guys have to pace themselves, why they
can't play hard all the time. It baffles me sometimes."
Malone triggered the win for 49-24 Utah when he made five of eight field-goal attempts in the third quarter.
"That's why I get the little bucks," Malone deadpanned.
"It'll be my job until I'm done. We're not an outside-inside team.
We're a team that goes inside first and we made them pay for that
down the stretch."
"Karl gave us life," said the oldest member of the Jazz, John
Stockton. "It was like 'You pass to me and I'll take care of
it."'
The Grizzlies, led by Shareef Abdur-Rahim's 20 points and 12
rebounds, were playing only their third game in eight days. Utah,
meanwhile, was playing its fifth in less than seven nights. But it
was Vancouver that looked like the tired team down the stretch.
The Grizzlies went through a 5:25 period without a
point.
Despite the drought, Vancouver coach Sidney Lowe insists his
team has not quit, pointing to a win Thursday over New York, snapping a nine-game losing streak.
"I think the reality for a lot of people is hard to see that
this team is still learning how to win games. It's hard to win.
It's easy to lose."
The Grizzlies, who committed seven turnovers in their win over
the New York Knicks on Thursday, had eight in the first quarter
against Utah.
However, the Grizzlies rallied in the second quarter, primarily
on the outside shooting of guards Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson.
The two former Arizona Wildcats combined to hit nine of 15 shots in
the first half, leading the Grizzlies to a 45-45 halftime tie.
Malone put Utah in control after both teams went the first 2:08
of the third without scoring. He scored eight of 12 Utah points as
part of an 11-2 run that gave the Jazz a 67-53 lead.
The Jazz then took a game-high 76-61 lead with their second unit
early in the fourth. Vancouver, keyed by reserve guards Mahmoud
Abdul-Rauf and Damon Jones, got within 76-69 with 7:52 left.
Malone, however, returned at that point and helped the Jazz
improve to 11-0 at Vancouver.
Game notes
Olden Polynice had a season-high 13 rebounds for Utah. ...
Vancouver's Erick Strickland was a scratch because of a strained
left knee ... The Grizzlies' Grant Long was a healthy scratch for
the first time this season ... Vancouver was trying for its 15th
home victory this season, which would have been a franchise record.
... The Jazz improved to 22-1 against Vancouver overall.
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NBA Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
Vancouver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 104
Indiana 93
Charlotte 80
Boston 79
Minnesota 99
Portland 95
Utah 92
Vancouver 73
New York 79
LA Lakers 78
Orlando 104
Toronto 101
Detroit 104
Golden State 87
New Jersey 101
Houston 98
Phoenix 106
Milwaukee 99
Dallas 119
Sacramento 107
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