Jazz beat Nuggets 112-104 to clinch series in 6

Jazz beat Nuggets 112-104 to clinch series in 6

SALT LAKE CITY — Carlos Boozer had 22 points and 20 rebounds, rookie Wesley Matthews scored 23 and made a key block, and Utah pulled away late in the fourth quarter and beat the Denver Nuggets 112-104 on Friday night, winning the playoff series in six games.

Deron Williams added 14 points and 10 assists for the Jazz, who went on an 11-0 run after Carmelo Anthony had tied the game at 95-all midway through the final period.

Matthews went 13 for 15 from the free throw line as Utah persevered in the foul-filled game, making 34 of 51 free throws after drawing 39 fouls by the Nuggets.

Chauncey Billups led Denver with 30 points and Anthony finished with 20 points on 6 for 22 shooting.

The Jazz will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round, and Jazz fans were already chanting “Beat L-A!” in the final minute.

Anthony also had 12 rebounds to lead Denver, which was outrebounded 44-39.

Joey Graham scored 18 of his 21 points in the second quarter to get the Nuggets back in the game after they fell behind by 15.

Paul Millsap had 21 points, 11 rebounds and blocked three shots for Utah

Williams finished the game with five fouls and was limited through much of the second half. He appeared to bang his left wrist on a fall in the final minute and was wincing as he made his way to the locker room as the rest of the Jazz celebrated.

Anthony chased Williams down and congratulated him with a quick hug outside the tunnel.

Denver was trying to force a Game 7 back at home Sunday. The Nuggets came pretty close despite falling behind by 15 early.

The Nuggets opened the third quarter with a 10-0 run and led by eight before Utah answered. Denver had a one-point lead early in the fourth quarter, then the Nuggets’ emotions started to cost them.

Millsap broke a 95-all tie with his second three-point play of the fourth, putting the Jazz up 98-95 with 6:22 remaining and starting an 11-0 run as the Nuggets began to unravel. Martin drew a foul and a technical for shoving Williams over the baseline on a drive with six minutes left and Utah leading 98-95. It was the third technical on Denver. Although Miles missed the technical free throw, Williams hit both from the line for a 100-95 lead for the Jazz.

Matthews came up with a huge defensive play when he blocked a shot by Anthony under the basket, then drew Anthony’s fifth foul when Billups was short on a 3-pointer with 4:55 left. Billups was called for a technical after the play and Matthews made the free throw, then two more to put Utah up 104-95.

Matthews added two more from the line with 4:23 left, and Utah’s lead was 106-95

Billups ended Denver’s scoring drought with a layup to cut it to 106-97

Acting coach Adrian Dantley, Graham, Kenyon Martin and Billups all received technicals for Denver.

Dantley received Denver’s first after Anthony collided with Matthews and was called for an offensive foul with 4:13 left in the second. The Nuggets responded with a 13-0 run, including 11 straight by Graham whose putback got Denver within 53-52 with 58 seconds left in the second quarter.

NOTES: Graham was 8-of-10 in the second quarter and scored 18 points. Graham’s 19 points in the first half matched his career playoff total. … The Jazz shot 56 percent in the first half. … The Nuggets opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run, getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Billups for a 64-56 lead.