Another night, another failed box-out leading to a tip-in win for a team in the Western Conference playoff race. On Thursday, the Utah Jazz were the beneficiaries on the boards, as center Al Jefferson, unfettered by defenders, corralled a missed Devin Harris runner and put it in with 0.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Jazz a 103-102 win over the Sacramento Kings. And it was a missed runner. Don't you dare believe those lying, assist-hungry point guards. From the Associated Press: Devin Harris claimed he was trying to pass the ball to Utah teammate Al Jefferson, who was alone under the basket with time winding down. Jefferson wasn't so sure but he wasn't going to argue [...] "I honestly thought it was a short shot," said Jefferson, who shot 13 for 19 from the floor. "I was at the basket by myself and that was the only way he could get it to me. It was a perfect pass." The play was ruled a missed shot by Harris and a putback by Jefferson on the official score sheet. I'm sure Harris appreciates his center trying to give him an assist, even if he's not going to get one himself. The bucket capped off a perfect 5-of-5 night at the rim for Jefferson and came on a play that, depending on your perspective, could be attributed to either a Sacramento lapse or Jazz coach Ty Corbin's design.
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