Mehmet Okur had 24 points and nine rebounds, and the short-handed Seattle
SuperSonics 93-87 on Tuesday night. The Jazz won consecutive games for the first
time since starting the season 2-0. Utah also won both ends of a back-to-back
for the first time this season after losing their first four.
After holding Milwaukee to 80 points on Monday night, the Jazz put in another
strong defensive effort, holding the SuperSonics 12 points below their season
average.
Gordan Giricek added 17 points for the Jazz, who made 15 of 30 shots in the
second half, and had assists on 20 of their 32 total field goals.
Rashard Lewis led Seattle with 26 points and Ray Allen added 24. Seattle had
its three-game winning streak snapped and failed in its first chance to climb
above .500 this season.
Unlike those previous three victories, a third scorer did not develop for
Seattle to help carry the offensive load. Mateen Cleaves had nine points off the
bench and Nick Collison and Luke Ridnour had eight, but no other Seattle player
scored more than five points.
