Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan said for several days that it was time to get going with his veteran players during the exhibition season. But for the second time in four days, the Jazz veterans couldn't get the job done.
The Philadelphia 76ers got 35 points from Charles Barkley, handing the Jazz a 102-95 defeat, Tuesday night at the Thomas and Mack Center.The loss left Utah's preseason record at 0-5. Last weekend's loss to Boston set an alltime franchise record for most losses to start an exhibition season; this one went one better.
Philadelphia is 3-2 in exhibition play.
As was the case last weekend, the Jazz had a chance late in the game. Thurl Bailey's tip with 3:00 remaining brought the Jazz back from what was once a 12-point deficit to a 96-95 deficit. But that was all the scoring the Jazz would see. Utah went the final three minutes without a point, as the Sixers went on to score the last six points of the game.
Down the stretch Utah turned the ball over and missed several clutch shots. An illegal defense call on Utah with 1:07 to go resulted in a Hersey Hawkins free throw. Barkley wrapped things up with a slam-dunk with 36 seconds left.
The first half was as close and interesting as promised. After a tight beginning that led to a 25-25 score after the first quarter, the Jazz went on a 16-4 run in the second quarter to go ahead 43-35.
Barkley, who got 16 points in the first quarter, didn't score in the second.
Regardless, the 76ers stormed back from the deficit, outscoring Utah late in the second period to pull within two, at 53-51 at the break.
Jazz guard Jeff Malone, who missed the last game with the flu, came back to score 13 first-half points, while Karl Malone added 12 and John Stockton 13.
The teams played close through the third period until the final minutes. Then Barkley and Hawkins went on a rampage, scoring six points apiece. Meanwhile, the Jazz went through a run of poor shot selection to fall behind by 11, at 84-73.
Utah fought back to come within a point with 4:17 to go on Karl Malone's slam, followed over a minute later by Bailey's shot. But the Jazz never retook the lead after being ahead in the mid-third quarter.
Philadelphia, 3-2 in exhibition play, returns with the Jazz to the Salt Palace for a Wednesday game at 7:30 p.m. That game will be aired live on KISN-AM (570).
Following Barkley in double-scoring were Ron Anderson , Johnny Dawkins , Hawkins and Rick Mahorn .
Utah got 26 from Karl Malone and 21 each from Jeff Malone and John Stockton. Bailey added 12.
The Jazz have three exhibition games remaining before opening the season Nov. 2 in Tokyo against the Phoenix Suns.