SALT LAKE CITY - Gordan Giricek scored 25 and the Jazz moved ahead in the race for the final Western Conference playoff berth with a 92-81 victory Monday night over the depleted Memphis Grizzlies.
The Jazz won in front of former guard John Stockton, who got a standing ovation with 8:58 remaining when he was shown on the big screen eating ice cream during his first game in Utah since retiring after last season. Utah never missed the playoffs in Stockton's 19 seasons and might just keep that streak alive even after the departure of the NBA's career leader in assists and steals.
By winning the rescheduled game, the Jazz improved to 41-37 and moved a half game ahead of Denver (40-37) for the No. 8 spot in the West.
WILLIAMS TRIAL DELAY: Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman suspended the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial in Somerville, N.J., for a week after lawyers for the retired NBA star said they needed time to review new evidence they received from prosecutors over the weekend.
HALL OF FAME: Clyde Drexler was one of six announced as the newest members of the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. Joining him are Lynette Woodard, an Olympic gold medalist and first female Harlem Globetrotter; coach Bill Sharman, in the Hall as a player; the late Maurice Stokes, the 1956 NBA rookie of the year; Jerry Colangelo, chairman of the Phoenix Suns; and Drazen Dalipagic, an international star for Yugoslavia. They will be inducted Sept. 10 in Springfield.
