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Greg Foster knew the Bulls were never out of it.
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Foster says Utah can build on the Game 3 win.
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Greg Foster fires his six-shooters after sinking a basket.

But on Friday night, the 28-year-old reserve center traveled somewhere he has never been: The Zone, that mystical place usually only reserved for the special athletes.

In an almost surreal stretch during the second quarter, Foster drilled long-range jumpers, crashed the offensive glass and even led Utah's fast break.

Clearly he had crossed into foreign soil. He was in the realm of Michael Jordan and a few chosen others who have taken over in the biggest moment in their careers. Greg Foster in The Zone. Talk about your illegal aliens. Somebody call immigration.

In the second period, the 6-foot-11, 240-pounder scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds as the Jazz opened up 61-45 halftime lead. Just as importantly, his spirited play helped keep the Jazz rolling as Karl Malone rested for the first four minutes of the quarter.

Foster had 15 points at halftime. Jordan had 14.

"He was great tonight," Utah guard Jeff Hornacek said. "Greg's one of our better shooters and he certainly doesn't lack for confidence. Tonight was just one of those nights when he was feeling it."

Foster was 4 for 5 in the second quarter. Click here for complete shot charts of Game 3.

Foster, whose career scoring average is four points per game, said he was simply having fun.

"My whole attitude throughout this whole series is I'm trying to have as much fun as possible," he said. "If I can keep the game fun and work hard and don't put any pressure on myself to go out there and be great, good things will happen. I let the game come to me, and I'm having fun with this."

Especially since it came at the Bulls' expense.

Foster, who played with the Bulls for 17 games in 1994 before being released, definitely had Chicago coach Phil Jackson shaking his head after the game.

"I wish he was back on our team, maybe at least for a half," Jackson said. "We could have taken those 15 points on our side.

"We have a lot of respect for Greg. He's a fine player. He got caught in the numbers game with us at a certain time, (when) Luc Longley came back from a stress fracture and we had to let him go."

Foster shoots over Dennis Rodman.

For the Texas-El Paso product, Game 3 was the ultimate payback.

"If you ever got hit in the stomach with a bat, maybe I could compare it to that," Foster said of his release by Chicago. "I was at a time in my career where I felt I really belonged in the NBA.

"That's the business side of it. It hurt bad, but there's no looking back now. I'm having fun with it. I have a home here, and like I said earlier, I'm going to continue to have fun with this whole experience."

Prior to the game, Foster drew inspiration by reading the book, "Thoughts of Winning." He was so moved that he said he was going to read the book after the game as well.

"I might sleep with it, too," he joked.

Even if he does, it's doubtful Foster will be able to dream up anything sweeter than his performance Friday night.