Matthews calls the tune as Jazz block out Suns

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, (Reuters) – Utah Jazz rookie  Wesley Matthews scored 10 of a career-high 21 points in the  fourth quarter to steer the home team to a 124-115 victory over  the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Carlos Boozer also scored 21 points and added 20 rebounds  for the Jazz, who ran away from the Suns with a 33-point fourth  quarter.

“It was almost like bait… we kind of fell into their trap  for the first three quarters,” Matthews told reporters after  his breakout performance.

“I love this. I have never been the type to back down from  anything and I think that’s what’s got me to where I am.”

Matthews has been used sporadically of late but came  through when the Jazz needed him.

On the other side, Goran Dragic tallied a career-high 32  points to help Phoenix forge a 106-102 lead in the final  quarter before Utah seized the momentum with a 17-3 run.

Utah (26-18) were fueled by the EnergySolutions crowd and  won their sixth straight home contest to move a full game ahead  of the Suns (26-20) in the competitive Western Conference.

By contrast, Phoenix have lost six of their last eight  games and been particularly poor on the road, amassing a woeful  1-12 record since Nov. 29.

The NBA’s top scoring team has had trouble defending,  keeping just one opponent under 100 points this month.

Despite the struggles, All-Star point guard Steve Nash  reached a milestone with his 8,000th assist becoming just the  eighth player in league history to reach the mark.

He finished with 15 points and 15 assists on the night  while Channing Frye scored 21 for Phoenix.