Jazz Keeps Composure, Finishes SuperSonics

With Karl Malone and John Stockton at their clinical, cool-headed best, the Utah Jazz put an end to Seattle’s emotionally charged playoff run.

Malone scored 27 points and every Utah starter reached double figures as the Jazz defeated the SuperSonics, 96-93, on Friday night and won the first-round playoff series, 3-2.

The Jazz didn’t bear any resemblance to the fractured, bickering bunch that unraveled in the fourth quarter Wednesday night in Game 4 at Seattle.

“Whether the referees are right or wrong, whether the plays you call are right or wrong, you have to maintain your concentration,” Stockton said. “You can’t let those things affect what you’re trying to do on the court.”

Stockton, who had 17 points and 15 assists, made two free throws with nine seconds remaining for Utah’s final points. Seattle had pulled within 94-93 when Gary Payton flipped in a runner in the lane with 25 seconds to play.

The SuperSonics got a final chance, but Chuck Person’s three-point attempt bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

“I’d bet on him any time,” Seattle Coach Paul Westphal said. “He’s a money shooter. He’s made a lot of those in his career. He gave it a good ride and it just didn’t go in.”

The victory sends Utah to a rematch against Portland in the Western Conference semifinals. Last year, the Trail Blazers eliminated the Jazz in six games.

Bryon Russell scored 16 points for Utah and Jeff Hornacek had 14.

Olden Polynice, aside from missing two late free throws badly, had a big game for the Jazz. He scored 13, including a three-point play with 5:41 remaining to give Utah an 86-83 lead and an emotional burst.

“That was the only way we were going to win, to get everyone involved,” Polynice said. “When we get away from a team concept, as we did the other night in Seattle, we’re not going to win.”

Fueled by a noisy capacity crowd of 19,911 at the Delta Center, the Jazz wore down the SuperSonics with a swarming defense that held Seattle to 43% shooting.

“Olden really hurt us,” Westphal said. “He made some big plays and our traps weren’t as effective because they were able to finish even if we took them out of their first options.”

But Utah helped make it interesting. Polynice gave the SuperSonics a final chance with 30.8 seconds remaining when, with the Jazz trying to extend a 94-91 lead, he missed two free throws--shooting an airball on the second.

Payton set the tone for Game 5 when he made a meaningless three-point basket at the end of Game 4. Fans booed him almost every time he touched the ball and bated him in the closing minutes with chants of “Ga-ry, Ga-ry.”

Still Payton, who had 27 points, almost had the last laugh. The SuperSonics trailed, 79-70, entering the fourth quarter, but Ruben Patterson and Payton combined on a 9-1 run that forced to Utah to call a timeout with 8:12 remaining.

Twice more Seattle came within a point in the fourth, but Malone kept making shots to keep Utah in the lead. Seattle’s last surge came when Payton and Rashard Lewis made consecutive baskets to pull within 92-89 with 2:06 to play.

Lewis scored 20 and Vin Baker had 17 for the SuperSonics.