Chambers, Malone Help Utah to Fifth Straight Victory

SALT LAKE CITY â€”  Tom Chambers scored 20 points and Karl Malone added 19 as the Utah Jazz handed the Dallas Mavericks their 26th loss in 28 games, 115-85, Monday night.

The victory was Utah’s fifth straight, ninth in its last 10 games and 10th straight at home.

Jim Jackson led the Mavericks with 23 points, and Jamal Mashburn added 20 points and nine rebounds as Dallas dropped its third game to the Jazz this season.

The Mavericks got within 60-52 with 7:21 left in the third quarter, when Popeye Jones was called for elbowing Karl Malone in the head.

Dallas Coach Quinn Buckner was assessed a technical for protesting, and Derek Harper also drew a technical. John Stockton made three of the four free throws to put Utah ahead, 63-52. The incident came about two minutes after Dallas center Greg Dreiling was assessed with two technicals and ejected.

Dallas got within 10 again at 66-56 with 5:59 left in the third quarter, but Utah outscored the Mavericks 20-11 through the end of the quarter to lead 86-67. Jeff Malone, Jay Humphries and Felton Spencer each had four points in the run.

Utah took its largest lead at 113-81 with 1:06 remaining.

Jeff Malone scored 13 points, and John Stockton, Bryon Russell, Spencer and Corbin each added 10 for Utah. Stockton had 12 assists for his seventh consecutive double-double.

Utah held Dallas to 36% shooting for the game, six for 24 in the fourth quarter. Karl Malone played only 30 minutes, but that was the most of any Jazz player.

Mashburn, who was six of nine from the floor in the first half, was two of eight in the second half. Fat Lever was one of 10 and Derek Harper three of 11.

Utah has won 11 consecutive games over Dallas.

A 12-4 run by Utah in the first 7:11 of the second quarter, led by Karl Malone and Chambers with four points each, put the Jazz ahead 39-25. A three-pointer by Stockton and a three-point play by Chambers gave the Jazz its largest lead of the half, 45-29 with 4:46 remaining. The Mavericks then outscored Utah 11-7 to get within 52-41 at halftime.