Seattle, Feb 27: Andrei Kirilenko recorded 22 points to steer the Utah Jazz past the Seattle SuperSonics 93-92 in overtime.
Andrei Kirilenko scored 24 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 93-92 overtime win against Seattle at KeyArena.

Carlos Arroyo scored 16 points and handed out six assists, while Raja Bell contributed 12 points off the bench. Gordan Giricek added 12 for Utah, which completed the home-and-home sweep. The Jazz bested Seattle 99-86 on Tuesday night. Ray Allen netted a game-high 40 points and hit 6-of-11 shots from beyond the arc for Seattle, which has dropped two straight. Rashard Lewis added 15 points and Antonio Daniels netted 11 in the loss.

Allen opened the extra session with a jumper, giving Seattle an 86-84 lead. However, Seattle would close out the game by scoring nine of the final 15 points.


Kirilenko's tip-in basket with nine seconds left iced the game, making it 93-89. Allen drained a three-pointer as time expired for the final margin. Kirilenko netted six points in the extra session.


Seattle led 17-16 after a low-scoring first quarter. Utah opened the second frame on a 14-4 run, capped by Maurice Williams jumper, giving the Jazz a 30-21 edge with around seven minutes left in the half.


The Sonics answered right back with an 8-0 spurt, ending with Allen's basket, making it 30-29 with under four minutes left in the frame.


The Jazz maintained a 40-36 cushion heading into the locker room. Kirilenko had 12 points in the first half, while Allen netted 11 to lead the Sonics in the opening 24 minutes.


Utah stretched its lead to seven points, 49-42, on Aleksander Pavlovic's jumper early in the third. Midway through the quarter, Seattle chipped away at the lead, getting it down to just two points. Daniels' trey brought Seattle within 58-56 with around four minutes remaining.


Moments later Seattle regained the lead on a Jerome James free throw, making it 61-60. The Sonics got some breathing room, closing out the frame by outscoring the Jazz 8-3. Allen's score gave them a 69-63 cushion after 36 minutes of play.


Allen's hot hand continued as his three-pointer in the opening moments of the fourth quarter pushed the score to 74-65.


However, the Jazz went on a 13-0 spurt, turning a nine-point deficit into a four-point advantage. Greg Ostertag's inside basket capped the burst, making it a 78-74 game with 6:30 left.


Allen's then stopped the rot, making it a 78-77 game, with 5:15 left. The next several minutes the contest went back and forth. With the game tied Utah had a chance to win it, but Arroyo's shot was off the mark as time expired.


Bureau Report