SALT LAKE CITY — For the second time in three games at EnergySolutions Arena, Paul Millsap’s grit, athleticism and uncanny ability to put a ball through a hoop propelled the Utah Jazz past Denver. This time, however, the victory Friday night meant the Jazz was advancing to the second round.
Millsap turned in a better-than- workmanlike line of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Spectacular, considering Carlos Boozer scored 22 and had 20 rebounds. It wasn’t the first time this series Millsap proved to be the guy who holds the Jazz together. In Game 3 he erupted for 22 points and 19 rebounds. And he comes off the bench.
“I was just doing me,” Millsap said. “I was just being me. I wanted to be aggressive, come off the bench and provide us with the energy that we need.”
The seven baskets Millsap converted came on an array of maneuvers: a give-and-go with C.J. Miles, off a left-handed dribble, after an offensive rebound, spun off the glass as he fell away from the basket.
“I just wanted to go to the rim,” Millsap said.
Calf keeps Kirilenko out.
Starting center by default, quote machine by nature, Kyrylo Fesenko has been thrust into the most significant role of his career in this year’s playoffs.
The third-year Ukrainian struggled in Game 5, scoring just three points.
When it was pointed out before Game 6 that he was efficient if nothing else — he made the only field goal he attempted — Fesenko was quick with a retort: “One-for-1, yeah. Sometimes I’m even better: 0-for-0.”
Friday night he was 0-for-1 with no points.
Bill Oram, The Salt Lake Tribune
