Credit Utah's bench with an assist — and a big one at that in Sunday's 123-115 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Jazz reserves outscored their L.A. counterparts, 39-16 — netted a postseason high while helping Utah even the Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2.
"Our bench was phenomenal," said Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer.
The four reserves who saw action — Kyle Korver, Matt Harpring, Paul Millsap and Ronnie Price — didn't just score. They also combined for 11 rebounds (six offensive), five steals, four assists and two blocked shots.
Most of contributions came in the fourth quarter when Utah expanded its lead to double-digits.
"I was really impressed," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "The thing that really kind of seemed to give us a little bit of life was our second group gave us a lift."
Korver led the reserves with 14 points, while Harpring added 12.
Millsap and Price finished with nine and four points, respectively.
"It was a tough game, a great battle and everybody played well for us. Our bench stepped up and provided us with a lot of scoring, a lot of energy, especially in the beginning of the fourth quarter," said point guard Deron Williams. "We're going to need that, we have to take that over to L.A. and try to get one there."
In the first three games of the series, Utah's bench outscored L.A.'s by just eight points.
COACH HORNACEK? ESPN and the East Valley Tribune in Arizona have listed former Jazz guard and current special assistant coach Jeff Hornacek as a potential candidate to become the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns — replacing Mike D'Antonio, who took the New York Knicks job,
Hornacek, a former Suns player, expressed interest in the position but said he hasn't been contacted by team president and general manager Steve Kerr or anyone else in the organization about it.
"I haven't talked to any of those guys yet, so ... If Steve calls, well, I'll talk to him," Hornacek said after Sunday's game at EnergySolutions Arena. "He asked me my interest last year in coaching and stuff like that. So, who knows?"
Hornacek, however, isn't surprised his name is in the mix of speculation. He played for the Suns from 1986-92 and resides in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
"I'm sure now that Mike has moved on that they'll start talking to people," said Hornacek. "I talked to Steve last summer and he started asking me about my interest in coaching. So if he calls, like I said, I'll talk to him and see what he has to say."
FACES IN THE CROWD: "High School Musical" stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Corbin Bleu, who are filming the latest installment of their movie at East High, attended Sunday's game. Bleu drew a few jeers from the crowd for wearing a Lakers jersey.
FOSTER RETURNS: Former Jazzman Greg Foster, who now lives in El Paso, Texas, returned to town for the game. Foster, infamous in Laker lore for his throat-slashing gesture to the L.A. bench a decade ago, brought his young son, Greg Jr., to Game 4. The younger Foster is a Kobe Bryant fan and sported an L.A jersey.
"He got away with it today," joked his father, who was decked out in Jazz colors.
SIGN LANGUAGE: A sampling of fan-made signs in the arena Sunday.
"My mom says I'm too loud"
"We love Booz — even on Sunday"
"The only good Laker is a Salt Laker"
"Mom needs Booz on Mother's Day"
"Kobe M (ake) V (acation) P (lans)"
BEAR BACK AT IT: Lakers coach Phil Jackson got a reprieve of sorts in Game 3 when the Jazz mascot Bear couldn't get his motorcycle to start during pregame introductions. Jackson has openly complained about the exhaust fumes that accompany the Bear's revving of the engine in front of his team's bench.
On Sunday, the Bear was back to doing his thing. The motorcycle, along with the dropping of balloons from the ceiling which were subsequently popped by fans in the arena, combined to more than make up for Friday's noise reduction.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com