The Utah Jazz's tour of the downtrodden, beleaguered, star-crossed, discouraged, lamentable and generally miserable teams of the NBA ended Saturday night at USAir Arena with a furious comeback and a sigh of relief.
So far on this five-game trip, the Jazz have lived like Evel Knievel, one step ahead of disaster. They scored just one point in the final 41/2 minutes at Minnesota to win by two. They pulled off some surprising plays in the final seconds at Boston to beat the Celtics by one. Saturday night at USAir Arena, they spotted the lowly Washington Bullets a 13-point lead, then fought back to record a 102-96 victory, their ninth win in 11 games."It's been like this the whole trip," said Karl Malone, whose 26 points topped the Jazz scoring.
If the aforementioned opponents aren't exactly the armies of doom, the Jazz aren't complaining. They have won three straight road games and moved their road record to 7-5. For a team that has never broken even on the road in franchise history, beating three teams of Tasmanians would have to qualify as a big success.
"This really showed me something about this team," said an exuberant Mailman. "Last year we would have got behind and packed it in. It's a good excuse. But we sucked it up tonight and won the game."
Although the Jazz showed admirable determination, they knew once the momentum began to turn, their chances were improving rapidly. Washington has now lost 10 straight games, and was embarrassed 113-91 earlier this month at the Delta Center. The Bullets have lost twice as many consecutive games as anyone else in the league and are flinching every time they look at the scoreboard.
"We stopped them a few times in a row and then we could sense they were frustrated," said forward Tyrone Corbin. "Then they were the ones coming out a little frustrated."
If the Bullets feel frustration, the Jazz know the feeling. They have felt for years it is their inalienable right to cry frustration at every turn. After a five-game winning streak at home recently, they lost to so-so Denver and injury-ravaged Golden State on the road. Then they come on the road to play Minnesota, Boston and Washington - teams with a combined 25-40 record going into Saturday's games - and ended up nearly suffocating each night.
"It's nice to be able to win these games, even if they're close," said John Stockton, whose 16 assists keyed the Jazz comeback. "But by the same token, it sure would be nice to get out and get a lead and hang onto it."
Recent success has turned the Jazz into happy wanderers this holiday season. As the final second ticked down, Jeff Malone was in an uncustomary spot - on the bench - waving a towel and explaining later that he can accept any role, even cheerleader.
"In Minnesota I hit the big free throw, against Boston it was a big rebound. Tonight it's cheerleader," he joked. "When Karl Malone comes up with a big play at the end, I got up and went face-to-face with him. He knew who to come to. You go to the veteran to get some motivation."
Jeff Malone wasn't the only one in a salutary mood. Stockton left the locker room high-fiving people and heading happily for the post-game television shows. The Mailman held court with anyone who wanted to listen, declaring the victory a major breakthrough. Jay Humphries, who clamped down on Washington's Rex Chapman - holding him to just two of his 20 points in the fourth period - sat regally on a giant throne sitting in a storage area, playing King for a Day.
"Each time we had a time out we were telling each other we can't let this game slip away," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.
Not that they didn't try. After an early six-point lead, the Jazz saw trouble in the second quarter when the Mailman drew his third personal foul. With Malone on the bench, Washington rolled to a nine-point lead before the half, on the strength of Chapman's 10-point quarter.
The Washington lead stretched to 13 in the first minute of the second half. "We're toast," said Jazz P.R. director David Allred.
The Bullets held the lead at around 10 points through the quarter and led 84-76 as the fourth period rolled around.
With the arrival of the last 12 minutes, the Jazz appeared hexed. The Mailman drew his fifth personal foul with 10:46 remaining, and soon the Bullets led by nine. After closing the lead to four, the Jazz were stunned again when Humphries drew a flagrant foul for simply reaching in to slap at the basketball.
The Jazz's last effort, though, didn't fail. Steals by Stockton, the Mailman and a blocked shot by Corbin each produced a basket, as the Jazz went on a 16-2 run. The surge was led mainly by Stockton and Malone. "It's amazing I get to sit and watch these guys play," said Sloan.
"We started to edge closer and closer and all of a sudden we got a steal here or made a basket there or got fouled, and then we were up by two, and all of a sudden they were the ones that started looking at each other," the Mailman said.
Once Felton Spencer swatted away a Tom Gugliotta shot and dunked on the other end, the verdict was in. The Bullets crumbled like dried flowers.
"A loss like this is real frustrating, especially when you're on a losing streak like ours," said second-year forward Don MacLean, whose 29 points led the Bullets. "When it looks like a win and you lose at the end, it's real tough to take."
With three straight road wins, the Jazz now get to the serious part of their five-game trip: Cleveland and San Antonio. Nevertheless, they weren't complaining. They have momentum, which they rarely enjoy once they get past the borders of their own hometown.
"We did it the hard way," the Mailman said. "That's true. But I'll take it any day."