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Jazz cools off the Warriors

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From the Associated Press

The Golden State Warriors couldn’t quite parlay their momentum into a Game 1 victory.

Carlos Boozer put back an offensive rebound with 17 seconds left to break a tie and Matt Harpring added two free throws 10 seconds later, giving the Utah Jazz a 116-112 victory over the Warriors on Monday night in the opener of the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals at Salt Lake City.

Boozer had 17 points and 20 rebounds, getting his last after Mehmet Okur’s three-point attempt bounced off the rim to Boozer in the lane for the go-ahead basket and a 114-112 advantage.

Stephen Jackson tried to put the Warriors back ahead with a three-point attempt, but it was short and Harpring ended up with the rebound after a scrum in the lane. Harpring was fouled, made both free throws and the Warriors didn’t have time to make up the deficit.

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Deron Williams finished with 31 points and eight assists and Okur had 21 points and 11 rebounds for Utah, which outrebounded the Warriors, 54-36.

Coming off a pivotal role in the first-round upset of the Dallas Mavericks, Baron Davis led Golden State with 24 points and seven assists.

Utah played without guard Derek Fisher, who was excused because of a health problem with one of his children.

Detroit 108, Chicago 87 -- With two blowouts, the Pistons have turned the Bulls’ first-round sweep over the defending champion Miami Heat into a distant memory.

Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points on an array of mid-range shots, a dunk in traffic and three-point baskets to lead Detroit to the win at Auburn Hills, Mich., and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We haven’t had this level of focus in a while,” Prince said.

Game 3 is Thursday at Chicago.

The Bulls came into the series full of bravado -- Andres Nocioni even predicted they would advance -- after eliminating Miami in the first round.

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Their tune has changed.

“We just got completely outplayed in Detroit,” said Chicago guard Kirk Hinrich, who had two points on 0-for-7 shooting. “We kind of lost our swagger. We need to get our swagger back.”

Detroit won, 95-69, in Game 1.

Richard Hamilton had 24 points and Chris Webber added 22 for the Pistons.

Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas scored 12 of his 18 points in the final quarter to prevent the Pistons from winning by 26, as they did in the series opener, but the Bulls’ best scorers did not come through.

Luol Deng scored 16 on four-for-12 shooting and Ben Gordon and Ben Wallace each scored 13.

The Bulls made only 23 field goals, matching the playoff franchise low they set in Game 1.

The Pistons are 6-0 in the playoffs, the franchise’s best winning streak in a postseason since closing the 1989 championship run with seven straight wins.

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