Even as they were left with nine players in uniform for the fifth consecutive game, the Jazz continued to build momentum with an overtime victory Saturday over Detroit to kick off a season-long six-game homestand. The Jazz were coming off the high of Thursday's triumph in San Antonio, where they had dropped 20 consecutive regular-season games dating to February 1999, but they suffered no letdown in beating Detroit for the ninth consecutive time. Although they've been left to start rookies Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor, as well as third-year center Kyrylo Fesenko, in recent games, the Jazz are enjoying their best stretch of the season, winning three straight and four of the last five.
They trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter against the Pistons but took advantage of a big 3-pointer by Andrei Kirilenko with a minute left in regulation to take the lead. Utah never trailed in overtime.
The Jazz will continue their homestand Tuesday against Oklahoma City, which already has beaten San Antonio, Miami and Washington this season. The Thunder could be the Jazz's top future competition in the Northwest Division with their young nucleus of players.
The Thunder, who have lost four consecutive games in Utah, dating to their Seattle SuperSonics days, are giving up nearly 10 points a game fewer this season than last.
JAZZ 100, PISTONS 97 (OT): The Jazz ran their winning streak against the Pistons to nine consecutive games overall and seven straight at EnergySolutions Arena. Carlos Boozer scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while Andrei Kirilenko finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Boozer hit three jumpers down the stretch and went 10-for-10 at the foul line for the night.
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