Utah Jazz Team Report - January 1

(Basketball News) - The Utah Jazz fell to the Sacramento Kings, 109-102, on Friday at the Delta Center.

Carlos Boozer compiled 25 points and 10 boards for the Jazz, who have dropped four in a row and seven of eight. Keith McLeod and Matt Harpring also notched double-doubles in the loss, with McLeod recording 14 points and a career-high 11 assists and Harpring registering 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Sacramento outscored the Jazz 28-17 in the third quarter to snap a 53-53 deadlock at the half. The Kings took control with a 10-0 run which turned a one-point deficit into a 66-58 lead halfway through the period, but Mehmet Okur’s basket followed by a three-pointer by Gordon Giricek pulled Utah within three with five minutes to go in the third.

Sacramento’s Chris Webber, who had 14 points during the quarter, then poured in 10 points in just over two minutes as Sacramento opened up a 76-68 advantage. Mike Bibby would end the third with a three-point play which put the visitors up 81-70.

A layup by Bibby with 9:45 to play extended the margin to 15 points, at 89-74. The lead remained in double-digits until an 8-2 spurt, ending with two Boozer free throws, put the Jazz down 98-91.

Peja Stojakovic then buried a three-pointer, one of three treys the star forward hit in a final quarter in which he had 13 points, to send the Kings ahead by 10. Utah never got any closer than the final score.

Boozer has scored in double-digits in 13 straight contests and has recorded 16 double- doubles this season.

Utah returns to action on Sunday against the Houston Rockets.