Boozer leads Jazz past Mavs

Deron Williams had 17 points and nine assists for Utah, which had lost five straight entering the game. Derek Fisher scored 15 points for the Jazz, who moved to within a half game of idle Houston for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Mehmet Okur finished with 14 points for Utah, which has already clinched the Northwest Division title.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 points for Dallas, which has locked up the best record in the league and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Jose Barea scored 16 points for the Mavs, who sat a number of players to rest in preparation for the playoffs.

Nowitzki played after sitting out Dallas’ previous game, but Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Terry, and Erick Dampier all sat in street clothes on the bench.

The Mavs opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run to pull to within 74-72. The Jazz answered with an 18-2 run to put the game away, though, with Matt Harpring closing the stretch with a jumper to boost Utah to a 92-74 lead with 4:39 remaining.

The Jazz led 72-64 entering the fourth quarter.

Fisher beat the buzzer with a 35-foot jumper at the end of the first quarter, and the three-pointer, which was confirmed by instant replay, gave Utah a 26-19 lead entering the second quarter.

Dallas sliced the deficit to 49-48 entering the break.

Game Notes

Utah had lost seven straight at Dallas, a streak that dated back to 2002...Utah outrebounded Dallas, 50-26.