Jazz Beats the Heat to End Losing Streak

Bryon Russell scored a season-high 20 points to break out of a shooting slump as the Utah Jazz ended a three-game losing streak with a 101-89 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night.

Karl Malone, who battled foul trouble all game, scored 19 points and Jarron Collins shot 12-of-13 from the foul line for 18 points.

The Jazz had lost five of six games, including consecutive blowout losses to Sacramento.

Utah took advantage of the absence of Alonzo Mourning, who stayed at the team hotel with flu, and shot 54.5%, a season-best mark for the Jazz and by a Heat opponent,

Rod Strickland scored 16 points and Eddie Jones had 12, but made only three of 16 field-goal attempts.

Jones had scored at least 20 points in a season-high six consecutive games.

The Heat lost for the second time in its last nine games.

Miami cut the lead to 86-81, the closest margin since the first half, on Eddie House’s jumper with 6:43 to play.

But John Stockton made a jumper and Collins and Malone added pairs of free throws. After Jimmy Jackson’s bank shot, Russell sealed the win with a three-point shot with 2:32 remaining to make the score 95-83.

Without Mourning in the middle for the Heat, the Jazz drove the lane often for layups and easy jumpers on kick-out passes.

When it didn’t score, the Jazz was often fouled going in.

Utah made 36 of 44 free throws, while Miami was 18 of 21.

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The Jazz put guard John Crotty on the injured list with tendinitis in his left knee and planned to sign Rusty LaRue to a 10-day contract today.... The New Jersey Nets signed guard Anthony Johnson and forward Donny Marshall for the rest of the season.... Vin Baker’s availability to the Seattle SuperSonics this week is in question because of a badly bruised left shoulder. Baker can’t lift his left arm over his head and is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against Portland.