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Official postgame notes and quotes following the Jazz's 96-93 home win against Sacramento on Saturday.
Notes: The Utah Jazz is 90-73 all-time against the Kings with a 59-23 record at home … The Jazz is 8-1 when leading at halftime … Paul Millsap grabbed seven of his season-high tying 14 rebounds (PHI 12/30) in the first quarter … Gordon Hayward had a season-high 21 points (19 @DEN 1/15) … C.J. Miles scored 10 of his season-high 20 points (19 vs. LAC 1/17) in the third quarter … The Jazz's bench outscored the Kings bench 45-13 … The Jazz scored a season-high 21 second chance points (20 @GS 1/7).
Tyrone Corbin – Head Coach (11-7 this season)On the game"Good win for us. After last night and traveling back, it was a tough loss in Dallas. The guys…the emotion of Jimmer (Jimmer Fredette) coming back to Salt Lake, and the excitement there. You know what, we'll take the win. We didn't execute and play our best basketball. We gutted it out and got the win."
On the play of Gordon Hayward"He did a great job right from the beginning. He just came in and wanted to make a statement. He's going to attack the basket first. He made a couple jump shots early. You could put the ball in his hands and get some plays at the basket. He's a passer and wants to put the ball on the floor and the guys fed off of him. We needed a big game from him tonight and he delivered for us."
C.J. Miles – Guard/Forward (20 points, 2 steals)On tonight's win after two straight losses"A win is a win. We'll take it however we can get it. We had to scrap a little bit. Defensively, we made some mistakes that we haven't been making. They've got some good guards. Tyreke (Evans) had a tremendous game. Isaiah (Thomas) came off the bench and gave them a spark late. We just tried to hold on to it."
On his reaction to Jimmer Fredette"I think our fans rattled him a little bit. But he's a tremendous player, everybody knows that. It was his first time here. I don't know if it was so much rattled, than that he was so much excited, he wanted to do well so bad. I know that feeling. He'll be alright though."
On his own game tonight"Last night wasn't a good night for me. Dallas did a good job of taking me out of some of the things that I do. So tonight I wanted to be able to mix it up a little more. I wanted to make sure I made some of those jump shots when I was open to open up all the drives."Gordon Hayward – Forward (21 points, 5 rebounds)On being aggressive tonight"I just tried to be a little more assertive. I tried to shoot with confidence. I'm still not where I want to be. I missed a lot of open, easy looks. I can just feel there's so much more, but it's a step in the right direction."
On the wing players stepping up"It helps out a lot. It makes us a much harder team to guard. It's easy when you just throw it in the post. If they're (post players) not going then what do you do then? So it's good when we step up like that. We need to do that. We need to be able to knock down those shots and make plays. It opens it up for those guys and allows them to go one on one."
Earl Watson – Guard (3 points, 2 rebounds)On the atmosphere of the game"It was a great atmosphere. It was like college. I thought I had on a Utah Utes jersey. It was like Utes vs. BYU. I was back in college. I want a per diem check."
On the future of the team"As we get past the All-Star break, I think we'll be one of the most dominant teams in the NBA and that's our goal, to win by more. No one wants to win three-point games, but as long as we win them, that's all that counts."
Alec Burks – Guard (8 points, 1 rebound)On being aggressive"I'm going to play aggressive. I was brought up aggressive. I'm going to make the most of my minutes."
On Utah's defensive intensity"We were pressuring. We got deflections. We got stops. That's the type of team we need to be to win games."
On the fans cheering Jimmer Fredette"I have never seen anything like that. That's crazy the way he gets that recognition. I thought Jay-Z or someone had walked up, but it was just Jimmer. So it's crazy."
Notes: The Kings now trail the overall series with the Jazz 73-90, including 23-59 in Utah … Tyreke Evans led all scorers with a season-high 31 points on 12-20 FG … Jason Thompson also scored a season high with 14 points, despite leaving the game briefly in the second quarter with a mild ankle sprain … Jimmer Fredette (14 points, 3-5 3-pt FG) is now 14-23 (61%) from three-point range in his last four games … DeMarcus Cousins' (14 points, 9 rebounds) double-double streak ends at five games … The Kings bench was scoreless until the fourth quarter when Isaiah Thomas scored 13 points, the most scored against theJazz by any player in the fourth quarter this season … The Jazz bench outscored the Kings bench 45-13 … Sacramento drops to 3-1 on the season in games decided by four points or less.
Keith Smart – Head Coach (6-14 this season)On the Kings' execution late in the game"Late-game plays, quick fouls here by one of our young guys, maybe a shot and drive in the closing moments, a rebound we didn't get – little minor things that we did, you know. Everything that we did…the focus of the game, going out on the floor with the right mindset, battling back from runs that a veteran team has. So we did a lot of positive things. I can't fault the effort; it's just that we didn't get the outcome of the win. But we did everything to put ourselves in that position, on the road, in a tough place to win at and had a chance to make a play and just couldn't make the play to win the game."
On Jimmer's three-pointer late in the fourth quarter"It's a combination of things. You have a lot of time on the clock and, like I told him in the locker room, sometimes you don't need the game-winner. Sometimes you may need just a two, especially when the guy is a shooter and guys will run at you real hard. But, hey, we have a first-year player in a situation, trying to do the right thing and it's a whole different story had he made that shot. But it's something that you learn and you grow from here. Now understand, later on, when you have more time on the clock to maybe make a play where you don't need a three."
Jimmer Fredette – Guard (14 points, 3-5 3-pt FG)On his last shot and losing a close game"I caught it… shot it… possibly contact, maybe not… but the ball didn't go in and that's what happens. It was a tough loss for us. We played really well. It was encouraging for us because we hadn't played so well on the road, but it's a tough place to play. We're encouraged. We've just got to try to convert at the end. That's all we can ask for."
On the mix of cheers and boos from the crowd"It was funny because, normally, I'm sure they're not used to hearing cheers when someone from the other team scores. It was great to hear, obviously great support here and I really appreciate all the fans who came out to support myself, but also the Kings. It was a great atmosphere tonight."Tyreke Evans – Guard (31 points, 9 assists)On the team making progress"We played how we wanted to play. We pushed the ball when we had a chance. We got a little sloppy with the ball a little bit. We just didn't come up with a win."
On the late comeback"This is a game of runs. We just played defense, got a couple stops, pushed the ball and tried to get a couple easy baskets. Next thing you know, we're back in the game. We just have to know…that 10 points is not a lot of points."
On the crowd cheering and booing Jimmer"It was for Jimmer. We never had that issue before. [This] is like a second home. They paid to see him play so they wanted him out there. He did a great job. He's getting better and better. I'm happy for him. Hopefully he can continue to keep playing that way."
The Salt Lake Tribune
Twitter: @tribjazz