SALT LAKE CITY, April 10 (UPI) -- Gordan Giricek scored 23 points and Utah used a closing burst to defeat Houston, 82-69, Saturday and inch toward an unlikely playoff berth.
Andrei Kirilenko added 15 points and Carlos Arroyo 13 for the Jazz (42-38), who remained tied with Denver for the eighth and final postseason berth in the Western Conference, one game ahead of Portland (41-39).
After Cuttino Mobley's three-pointer pulled the Rockets within 69-65 with 2:42 to go, the teams traded empty possessions before Kirilenko grabbed an offensive rebound and whipped a pass to Arroyo, whose three-pointer triggered a game-ending 13-4 surge.
Utah has not missed the playoffs since 1983. It visits Minnesota on Monday and hosts Phoenix on Wednesday and must finish ahead of Denver to secure its 21st straight postseason berth.
