Utah Jazz Team Report - March 9

(Basketball News) - Gordan Giricek finished with 21 points off the bench to lead Utah to an 88-83 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday at the Delta Center.

Raul Lopez contributed 17 points for the Jazz, who won for the fifth time in six games and snapped a five-game losing streak at home to the Lakers. Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the victory.

Los Angeles forward Karl Malone, currently on the injured list, returned to Utah for the first time since leaving the Jazz, but was forced to remain on the bench due to a knee injury. He signed as a free agent with the Lakers this past summer.

Raja Bell posted 13 points for the Jazz, who scored 11 straight points to overcome a four-point deficit down the stretch.

Shaquille O’Neal’s dunk, with just under four minutes to go, staked Los Angeles to a 72-68 edge. But the center was called for a technical foul and was ejected when his elbow came down on a Utah player.

The Jazz then took advantage of the loss. Giricek’s jumper put the team ahead for good with 2:48 to play. On their next possession, Kirilenko hit a fadeaway jumper with the shot clock winding down.

Two foul shots by Giricek with 58 second to go capped the flurry and put Utah ahead 79-72.

The Lakers got no closer than three points the rest of the way.

Utah, which won for just the third time in its last eight at home, will return to action on Wednesday when it hosts the Golden State Warriors in the finale of a two-game homestand.