Jazz 116, Nets 107
SALT LAKE CITY -- Randy Foye hit three straight 3-pointers during a key second-half stretch and finished with 26 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 116-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
Foye ended up equaling a career high by making 8 of 9 3-pointers and gave Utah the lead for good with his 9-0 scoring spurt midway through the third quarter.
Jazz center Al Jefferson and guard Mo Williams each scored 20 points to help overshadow a solid performance by former Utah point guard Deron Williams.
Deron Williams was booed every time he touched the ball, but he had 21 points and 11 assists in his second outing back in Utah since being traded to the Nets in 2011.
The victory was the Jazz's fourth in a row -- and second in as many nights -- as surging Utah improved to 38-36 and maintained its hold on the No. 8 position in the Western Conference playoff race.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 27 points and seven rebounds. C.J. Watson scored 20, but Brooklyn (42-31) fell for a second consecutive night in the Rocky Mountains after losing to Denver 109-87 on Friday.
Though Williams was a two-time All-Star while in Utah -- and led the team to the 2007 Western Conference Finals -- some Jazz fans continue to blame him for playing a part in Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan's sudden resignation in the 2010-11 season.
Williams fell to 0-4 against the Jazz since being traded on Feb. 23, 2011, in exchange for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two first-round picks and $3 million.
The Nets point guard gave his team a 65-64 lead with a layup just after the Jazz honored former center Mehmet Okur with a video tribute early in the third quarter.
Foye took over from there.
The Jazz's starting shooting guard hit three of his five third-quarter 3-pointers -- tying a team record -- to give Utah a 74-65 lead with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter.
Foye made two more 3s in the fourth quarter to tie former Jazz guard and current assistant coach Jeff Hornacek with eight treys. Hornacek hit eight 3-pointers in a game against Seattle on Nov. 23, 1994.
Favors finished with 13 points and nine rebounds against his former team and Marv Williams added 14 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Paul Millsap contributed nine points and a career-high nine assists, and Gordon Hayward had eight points, six assists and three blocked shots, including one of a Williams' layup attempt as the Jazz turned a five-point halftime deficit into a lead that grew to 16 points in the second half.
The teams shot the lights out.
Utah hit 11 of its first 13 shots from the field and ended up shooting 55.6 percent despite playing Friday night in Portland, a 105-95 win. Brooklyn shot 51.9 percent.
NOTES: Foye's 3-pointer in the first quarter set a Jazz team franchise record for 3-pointers in a season (439, 2009-10). Utah now has (449) 3-pointers. Foye set the individual franchise record for 3-pointers in a season earlier this year. ... Jazz backup center Enes Kanter remains sidelined after dislocating his left shoulder Wednesday. His left arm is in a sling. "It hurts," he said. Kanter rode a stationary bicycle before Saturday's game and said, "I'm just trying to keep myself in shape for summer." Asked if that means he's out for the season, Kanter said he isn't sure yet. "We're still waiting and see how my shoulder feels. If it heals quickly, I hope so (to return)." ... Guard Joe Johnson (right quad contusion) missed his fourth game in a row. Keith Bogans started in his place for the Nets.
