Kirilenko hits triple-double to lead Jazz past Raptors

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Andrei Kirilenko had his first career
triple-double and Mehmet Okur chipped in with game high 29
points to power the Utah Jazz to a 111-98 win over the Toronto
Raptors in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.

Kirilenko’s 18 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists was also
the first triple-double for Utah since Karl Malone completed
the feat against the Los Angeles Clippers on May 4, 1999.

The big Russian’s 16 rebounds and 10 assists also
represented career highs.

Okur also had seven assists and six rebounds while Devin
Brown contributed 15 points to the win as the Jazz won for the
first time in three games.

Chris Bosh continued to set the pace for the Raptors with
27 points, while Jalen Rose had 16 and Mike James 15.

The Jazz led 54-47 at the half then took command in the
third, out-scoring the Raptors 33-25 to open up a 15-point
cushion going into the final 12 minutes.

In Sacramento, Kevin Martin poured in a career high 25
points and Kenny Thomas contributed 22 points and 15 rebounds
as the Kings handed the Phoenix Suns their heaviest defeat of
the season, 119-90.

Rookie Franciso Garcia added 21 and 10 rebounds in the rout
while Mike Bibby had 19 and Brad Miller flirted with the
triple-double, hitting for 18 points, 12 rebounds and nine
assists.

Shawn Marion had 25 points in the loss for the Suns, while
Raja Bell had 19 and league MVP Steve Nash was limited to just
seven points and eight assists.

The Suns showed none of their usual offensive flair as the
short-handed Kings, playing without injured Peja Stojakovic,
Shareef Abdur-Rahim and guard Bonzi Wells, stormed to a
22-point halftime lead of 65-43.

The Kings continued to maintain the pressure in the second
half by increasing their lead to 27 points going into the final
quarter and cruising to the easy win.