It's a shame the Jazz must soon ring in a new year, because they sure did end this one with a bang.
     
Utah closed 2001 with a 89-81 victory over Philadelphia on Saturday night, winning its fourth game in a row ? including three since after the Christmas holiday.

The Jazz did it in front of a crowd, too, playing before 19,911 at the Delta Center, which was sold out for the first time this season.
     
And the best part about the victory for Utah was that it was no fluke.
     
"I just think we're getting better," said veteran backup point guard John Crotty, one of several bench players who boosted the 16-15 Jazz over the .500 mark for the first time this season. "You see improvement game in and game out."
   
Jerry Sloan, who credited Utah's subs for their role in his 800th career coaching victory, could not agree more.
     
"It was a good win for our team," said Sloan, who logged his first 94 regular-season wins with the Chicago Bulls, and all the rest in Utah. "Again, our guys off the bench came in and gave us a really nice lift, and gave us a chance to win the ballgame.