For those only interested in the Midwest Division race, Saturday night's Jazz-Denver game was good enough: a 106-93 Utah win that put the Jazz up 41/2games on the Spurs. For those interested in good basketball games, well, Y'all come back now, ya hear?
The Jazz set a precedent in recent games, going down to the wire and winning in dramatic fashion. This time it was as exciting as eating rice cakes. Dikembe Mutombo? A quiet 10 points. Karl Malone? Six-for-22. Jeff Malone? Still working on restoring his rhythm."I don't know if the fans are spoiled or you guys are spoiled," the Mailman told reporters. "But we didn't play good."
Certainly the Jazz could be forgiven for their lapse into ordinariness. The Nuggets, though much improved over last year, are hardly contenders. The contest with the Jazz, their fourth game in five nights, didn't promise to be memorable on any count.
The Jazz led by as many as 14 points, but in the final period saw the Nuggets close it to seven. It wasn't enough to stir the game into something watchable.
"We got in a little trouble and had to pick up our intensity," said Jazz center Mark Eaton. "It wasn't because we were comfortable, it's just that we didn't do a good job of concentrating - if you can figure that out . . . Let me know how it turns out."
For the Jazz, it turned out well enough. The victory was Utah's seventh in their past eight games. The Jazz now turn to a more worthy opponent, the Boston Celtics on Monday.
The first half wasn't exactly material for next year's highlight film. While Jeff and Karl Malone were off to one of their worst starts of the year, John Stockton kept the Jazz going by working on Denver guard Winston Garland.
Stockton had nine points in the first quarter, driving inside on the Nuggets for several important baskets. Though the Jazz made their first five field goals, they suddenly went cold, missing five in a row.
Meanwhile, the Malones were having more problems than they usually have in a week. At one stage they had made just three of 20 shots between them, including seven straight misses by the Mailman.
But gradually the Malones worked their way out in the final two minutes of the half. The Mailman scored from the wing and Jeff Malone landed two in a row to lead the Jazz on an 11-4 run at the end of the half.
Jeff Malone finished the game with a team-high 24 points, making 10 of 21 shots.
"Tonight I hit a few and I missed some easy ones," said Jeff Malone. "But we'll be OK."
Mutombo's tip pulled the Nuggets to a 54-52 deficit at the break.
The game's most interesting moments had little to do with the game. One came when Jeff Malone spent several minutes trying to get a contact lens adjusted. Thrilling stuff. The other involved Mutombo, who hooked arms with Mark Eaton in the early fourth quarter and the two had to be separated. Moments later Mutombo drew a technical after slamming the ball on the floor.
"He is going to have to learn that if he slams the ball down, he is going to have to catch it," said Denver coach Paul Westhead. "I think it was indicative that our guys had been playing so well and they felt bad that the game swung away from them."
"When you get in a game like this and you get up on a team like Denver by 10 or 15, you figure it's over," said Jeff Malone. "Denver is an improved team. But we did what we had to to win. That's what's important."
Stockton, who led the Jazz at the start, did so again in the final period, scoring 10 of his 21 points. After the Nuggets had closed the Jazz lead to 93-86 with 3:03 to go, the Jazz built the lead back up by making seven of eight free throws.
Stockton capped the night by making a free throw and missing the second try, but tipping in his own shot.
While the Jazz were busy trying to stay interested, the Nuggets felt they had something else to deal with: the officials. Denver shot only 11 free throws, compared to 39 for the Jazz.
"How can we play for 48 minutes and shoot only eight free throws, or whatever we shot?" said Mutombo. "At least they have to give us some calls. There is no way we shot 11 free throws with all of the driving we did on the basket."
Neither team made an impressive assult on the hoop, both making only 43 percent of their shots for the game.
Utah, 34-18, now moves into the second week of a two-week homestand. This week games include Boston, Dallas and Houston.
Said the Mailman, "You'd like to have great intensity every night, but some nights it's just not there. This was just one of those nights."
GAME NOTES: Stockton's 10 assists moved him into sole possession of the No. 6 spot on the NBA's all-time assist charts . . . The loss ended a two-game Denver winning streak that included victories over Cleveland and Dallas.