OAKLAND, Calif. -- Derek Fisher and Deron Williams delivered
the majority of clutch plays down the stretch during Utah's
overtime victory in Game 2.
They weren't even on the court for much of the first half in
Game 3 -- forced to watch from the bench in foul trouble as the Jazz
fell way behind.
And Utah never could recover even once both returned.
By then, the Warriors were already well on their way to a
125-105 victory Friday night to get on the board in the Western
Conference semifinals.
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan certainly will demand more from his top
playmakers in Game 4 on Sunday night, otherwise Utah could be
headed home with the series tied at 2 after leading 2-0.
Fisher finished with nine points on 1-of-6 shooting, no assists
and didn't make his first field goal until 11:12 remaining, then
fouled out late. He made all seven of his free throws.
Williams had 14 points, six assists and four rebounds while
committing seven turnovers -- uncharacteristic sloppiness for the
typically reliable point guard. Williams, Utah's second-leading
scorer during the playoffs at 18.1 points per game, showed his
frustration when he was whistled for a technical foul for arguing
in the final minute of the third.
On the defensive end, the Jazz seemed a step behind all night.
They had a hard time getting a hand in the face of Golden State's
dangerous perimeter shooters and got beat down the floor by Baron
Davis and company repeatedly as the Warriors dictated the pace of
the game. Golden State made 11 3-pointers in the first half,
matching an NBA playoff record, and 15 total.
It was Williams who hit the 12-foot jumper in the waning seconds
of regulation in Game 2 that sent Utah into overtime in its 127-117
victory Wednesday. And Fisher's dramatic entrance in the third
quarter that night after returning from the East Coast and dealing
with his daughter's illness provided a huge emotional boost for his
teammates.
The Jazz lacked that kind of energy and passion Friday, just the
way the Dallas Mavericks did during the first-round games in
Oakland.
So far during these playoffs, opposing teams have done little
right at raucous Oracle Arena -- where the eighth-seeded Warriors
are 4-0 in the postseason and 14-1 since March 5.
Fisher and Williams combined for five shots and four points in
the first two quarters, a big reason why the Jazz trailed 70-49 at
halftime despite a 24-17 rebounding advantage. Williams played all
of nine minutes in the first half and Fisher only five. Both were
out for most of Golden State's decisive 30-13 run that put the Jazz
in a 20-point hole.
Williams, Utah's top draft pick in 2005 at third overall, had 17
points, 14 assists, three rebounds and a steal in 37 minutes in
Game 2. The Jazz will be counting on him to bounce back with
another big performance in Game 4.