FORWARDS: Karl Malone turned in his usual 28 points while frustrating Rasheed Wallace and limiting him to 15. Bryon Russell and Scottie Pippen both struggled on offense but Russell scored a key bucket down the stretch and outscored his counterpart 11-6. Edge: Jazz

CENTERS: The Jazz hope Olden Polynice doesn't wake up from his 39 minute, 12 point, 11 rebound dream game. Arvydas Sabonis was ineffective and even Wallace was contained when playing center against the mighty O.P.. Greg Ostertag played spectator and cheerleader for 48 minutes.Edge: Jazz

GUARDS:Steve Smith looked to be on the verge of a monster game after 13 first quarter points, but scored only six the rest of the way while Jeff Hornacek countered with 9. John Stockton dished for 9 assists, found his shot and scored 18 points. Damon Stoudamire shot badly scoring 9.Edge: Jazz

BENCHES:Brian Grant's 20 point, 13 rebound performance was Portland's best of the day and he carried Portland down the stretch. The Jazz reserves, especially Quincy Lewis, played well enough in their first-half stint to maintain an early Jazz lead but lost the bench-scoring duel 30-11.Edge: Blazers

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COACHING:Jerry Sloan trusted his subs when nobody else did and somehow convinced his team they weren't finished. Mike Dunleavy was unable to get his team to show the killer instinct needed to put an inferior Utah away.Edge: Jazz

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