SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Utah Jazz's preseason pledge to improve defensively looked forgotten until late in the third quarter of their home opener.The Jazz tightened up the defense to trigger a 15-0 run, then held the Los Angeles Clippers to 14 points in the final period of a 111-98 victory on Friday night.Utah's home opener was in danger with the Jazz trailing by as much as six before they finally stopped trying to just outscore the Clippers and actually shut them down.
"We didn't play much defense in the first three quarters of this game, then turned it on in the fourth," said Deron Williams, who had 21 points and nine assists for the Jazz. "We've got to have it for the full 48 minutes. There's no excuses."
Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 23 points, scoring 14 in the final period while leading the Jazz in a rally that quickly put away the winless Clippers.
Carlos Boozer had 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, Andrei Kirilenko added seven assists and Kyrylo Fesenko scored 10 points in his second career start.
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