Boozer helps Jazz take commanding series lead

Game 2 hero Derek Fisher poured in 21 points while Deron Williams had 20 points and 13 assists for the Jazz, who took a 3-1 lead and will look to close out the series on Tuesday in Utah.

Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington each scored 24 points for the Warriors, who suffered their first playoff loss at home in front of the largest crowd ever to attend a basketball game in California.

Baron Davis, who scored 32 points to lead Golden State to a Game 3 victory, shot just 6-of-16 from the field and finished with 15 points and seven assists.

Golden State shot playoff lows in field goals (40.5 percent) and free throws (61.8 percent).

Down by three heading into the final quarter, the Jazz opened up the fourth on a 10-2 run, capped by a pair of free throws by both Fisher and Boozer, to take an 85-80 advantage.

A Harrington trey followed by an Andris Biedrins slam put the Warriors up 87-86 with just over six minutes left in the game, but Fisher answered with a three and after a Jackson free throw, baskets by Mehmet Okur and Fisher made it 93-88 Utah.

A Richardson three brought Golden State within two, 93-91, with 3:46 remaining, but that was as close as the Warriors would get. Williams’ running jumper and Boozer’s layup made it 97-91 Utah.

After a Matt Barnes’ jump hook brought the Warriors back within four, Fisher once again had the answer with another three with just over two minutes to play that effectively put the game away.

Davis and Barnes both missed on three-pointers at the other end and the Jazz began a parade to the free throw line to ice the game.

Things got testy with 37.2 seconds to play as Jason Richardson sent Okur crashing to the court when the Jazz forward drove to the lane for a layup. Both players had to be separated as Richardson was handed a Flagrant Type 2 foul and ejected from the game.

Three-straight threes — two by Jackson and one by Barnes — gave the Warriors a 23-17 lead with just over three minutes to play in the first, but Utah scored the final eight points of the quarter to grab a 25-23 lead.

A three-point play from Harrington sparked a 9-0 Golden State run in the second quarter as the Warriors quickly went up 32-27 on a Mickael Pietrus jumper. However, in a repeat of the first quarter, the Jazz scored the final eight points of the second and took a 50-49 advantage into the locker room thanks to Williams’ three-point play with just over 18 seconds left in the half.

Things remained tight in the third quarter and a pair of Monta Ellis free throws followed by a Davis three gave the Warriors a 78-75 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

It was the first ever playoff victory in Golden State for the Jazz...Utah is looking to advance to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 1998.