SALT LAKE CITY, April 27 (UPI) -- Greg Ostertag had a career playoff-high 22 points along with 12 rebounds and five blocks Saturday night to lead the Utah Jazz to a 107-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series.
Utah lost the first two games of the series and avoided falling into a 3-0 hole. Karl Malone had 20 points and 11 rebounds, but it was Ostertag who made an unlikely difference.
The eight-year veteran, who has had a tumultuous career with Utah, made six of 16 shots from the floor and 10 of 14 free throws. He shot just 51 percent from the line during the regular season.
The Jazz overcame the loss of coach Jerry Sloan, who was ejected late in the third quarter, and took the lead for good at 92-90 on a jumper by Matt Harpring with 5:14 remaining.
Ostertag made two free throws for a 98-93 lead with 3:47 left. Utah made seven of eight free throws in the final two minutes, including four of four from John Stockton, and pulled within two games to one in the best-of-seven series.
Chris Webber had 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out and Mike Bibby scored 23 points for the Kings.
