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The Utah Jazz obviously are looking for better playoff positioning as the season is in its twilight.  They brought an 11-game winning streak into Conseco Fieldhouse Tuesday as they took on the Indiana Pacers, who are very much missing leading scorer Danny Granger (torn tendon – foot) and Mike Dunleavy (knee).  But turnovers would prove to be the death knell as the Pacers committed 22 turnovers and as a result, Utah would take advantage and stretch their winning streak to 12 as they beat Indiana 112-100.

Although the Pacers committed a whopping 14 turnovers in the first half, they somehow managed to stay within the Jazz’ rear-view mirror as they went into halftime down by only 6 at 54-48; a big part of that was Troy Murphy’s 21 first-half points.  Indiana would take a 61-58 lead on a pair of free throws by Jarrett Jack early in the third quarter but Utah would regain a 7-point lead minutes later on a Ronnie Brewer dunk. 

But Jack’s jumper closed the Pacers to within 82-80 going into the fourth quarter.  The Pacers tied the game at 90-all on a T.J. Ford jumper with 7 minutes left to go, but the Jazz would go on a 16-4 run over the next three minutes to take a double-digit lead which they would not relinquish.

Utah’s high scorer was Mehmet Okur with 24 points, 6 rebounds, an assist and 2 blocks while Paul Millsap, from off the bench, added 22 with 9 rebounds; Brewer scored 18 with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals while Deron Williams, although he scored only 5 points, dished out 12 assists along with 5 steals and 2 blocks.

Indiana was led by Murphy with 23 points (including a whopping seven 3-pointers), 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Jack and Ford added 21 each – with Jack grabbing 2 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists along with a steal, but turning the ball over 5 times while Ford grabbed 3 boards, dished out 9 assists along with 2 steals and a block but committing 6 turnovers.  Utah (41-23) plays again on Wednesday when they travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks while Indiana (28-38) does not play again until Friday when they also face the Hawks.