Sometimes a single shot encapsulates a series; a season even. After surging near the top of the Western Conference before injuries derailed them the last few weeks, the Jazz seemed to be this close to really breaking through into the “legit contender” category. Indeed, they even led the entire Western Conference in point differential (which we all know is a better predictor of future success than win-loss record -- right Dallas?)
VIDEO: Wesley Matthews Misses Tip-In, Lakers Hold On For Game 3 Win Over Jazz
Likewise, coming back home to Utah, desperate to notch a win and avoid an all-but-insurmountable 0-3 hole, the Jazz came this close to upending the bigger, longer Lakers in Game 3. In a thrilling, back-and-forth final quarter, Utah got key contributions from Kyle Korver -- who gave his best Goran Dragic impersonation, going for 23 points on 9-10 shooting, including 5-5 on three-pointers -- while the Lakers found an unlikely offensive hero(?) in Ron Artest, as the teams traded leads through the final minute.
And then, after the Lakers threw the ball away on the inbounds (and the Jazz got away with some textbook defensive pass interference on Derek Fisher on the play), the Jazz had one final chance to knock off Kobe & Co. and make it a series. Well, two chances really.
That one play shouldn’t overshadow what was another solid game for the undrafted free agent out of Marquette (and featured at least one highlight-reel level play), but again Utah is left with the bitter taste of coming up just short against the lords in purple and gold.
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