Cavs cry foul to no avail in road loss

Coach Mike Brown complained about a play in the final seconds of a one-point loss to Utah.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Gordan Giricek smothered LeBron James throughout the fourth quarter and helped hold the Cleveland standout to four points in the final period.
However, it was Giricek's final defensive play in Utah's 99-98 win Wednesday night that bothered the Cavaliers the most.
Giricek collided with Sasha Pavlovic before Pavlovic got off a 37-foot shot that missed at the buzzer. The Cavaliers thought he was fouled and stood in disbelief after the buzzer when none of the officials blew a whistle.
Watched replay
"He dribbled the basketball and Giricek tried to take a charge and he slid to the side and he fouled him with time on the clock," Cleveland coach Mike Brown said. "Maybe that's too tough a position for the refs to be in to make that type of call. Watching the replay, it was a foul and it's unfortunate for us."
The Jazz were badly outrebounded and made just 60 percent of their free throws, but they held James to just eight points in the second half and beat Cleveland for the first time in nearly three years.
Utah has won six straight entering the All-Star break. Deron Williams scored a career-high 33 points and had 12 assists for Utah and Giricek -- not known for his defensive play -- held James to 1-for-5 shooting in the fourth quarter.
"Gira did a great job on him," Williams said. "We know who's hands the ball's going into and he stepped up and did a great job defending him."
The Jazz improved to 6-1 since leading-scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer -- the former Cavalier -- was knocked out of the lineup with a small fracture in his left leg.
Boozer sat behind the Utah bench and saw a thrilling finish.
Final chance
Cleveland had a final chance after Williams missed a runner with about 5 seconds left and Pavlovic got the loose ball and heaved a shot after running into Giricek.
Pavlovic, James and Anderson Varejao lamented after there was no foul called and the Jazz celebrated the victory.
"Sasha's going full speed and a guy bumps him," James said. "I mean, no matter what type of game it is, I think that it's a foul."
James finished with 23 points and Larry Hughes scored 33 for the Cavaliers.
Varejao pulled down 17 rebounds and James and Drew Gooden had 10 boards apiece as the Cavaliers outrebounded the Jazz 49-37.
The Cavaliers' game against the L.A. Lakers Thursday night was not completed in time for today's edition. Check Saturday's Vindicator for a story and boxscore.