Jazz-Wizards: Mehmet Okur, Deron Williams Fuel Victory

Coming into this game, the Jazz were atop the Northwest division, but would they falter and lose to a Gilbert Arenas-less team?

The answer is no.

Mehmet Okur scored a team-high 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Jazz to a 96-87 victory over the Wizards. Deron Williams had a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists as well. 

Antwan Jamison scored a game-high 31 points as Washington fell to 24-21. Center Andray Blatche had another good game as he finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

The Wizards were hurt by a lack of offensive production from their backcourt, as they did not score until midway through the third quarter. In the end, their backcourt managed to turn on the gas, combining for 25 points, but it was too little too late.

Carlos Boozer, the Jazz's leading scorer, had a night to forget as he was only able to scrap together four points (in 40 minutes.) Boozer did, however, collect nine rebounds in the game, good for second-best on his team.

The two teams started off cold, combining for 33 points in the first quarter. Utah rebounded from its slow start, going on a 12-1 run halfway through the second, with marksman Kyle Korver's 3-pointers on consecutive possessions punctuating it.

With 11:23 left, Deron Williams connected on a 3-pointer to put the Jazz ahead the rest of the way. The Jazz out-dimed the Wizards 32-12 and out-rebounded them 49-39.

In other words, Utah simply outplayed Washington.

Deron Williams was left off the All-Star team this year after the last remaining spots went to Nash and Paul.

It will be mindful if you watch Williams to see if he holds a grudge or has a chip on his shoulder the rest of the year and starts taking control of more games as he did last year, toward the postseason.