Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Sundiata Gaines, inserted in the lineup for the injured Deron Williams and playing on his second 10-day contract, drained a deep three-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer, as Utah stunned Cleveland, 97-96, in a wild finish.
Gaines’ Buzzer-Beater Lifts Jazz Over Cavs In Wild Finish
The rookie from Georgia made all three of his shots for nine points in relief of Williams, who re-injured his right wrist early in the fourth quarter. Gaines did his best impersonation in a game where both teams led by double digits. Utah held a 13-point lead midway through the fourth quarter only to have LeBron James single-handedly will the Cavs to the lead.
And then there was Gaines, who got the chance for a game-winning shot because Cleveland went just 3-of-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch. Gaines took a pass and fired while falling to the ground as the basketball hit nothing but net.
Carlos Boozer led the Jazz with 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, while Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price totaled 13 points apiece in the victory.
James scored 36 points, including 18 of 20 Cleveland points at one stage in the fourth, while Anthony Parker and Delonte West chipped in with 11 points apiece for Cleveland, which dropped to 2-2 on its five-game road trip.
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