Even if he managed only eight points and eight assists, even if he never got off the bench in the fourth quarter, Deron Williams couldn't be all that unhappy with how his latest showdown with Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets turned out.
Williams improved to 9-2 all-time against Paul as the Jazz held New Orleans to 13 points in the second quarter and went on to a 116-90 victory Wednesday night at EnergySolutions Arena. Paul had 26 points and seven assists and didn't play the fourth quarter, either. The Jazz's victory was tempered by the loss of C.J. Miles to a sprained right ankle. Miles hit a 17-footer with 1:17 left in the third quarter, but rolled his ankle as he landed on James Posey's foot and had to be helped to the locker room.
The Jazz announced the X-rays were negative and Miles suffered a moderate sprain. There was no immediate timetable for his possible return.
The Hornets have lost their last three games in Utah by an average of 25.3 points.
Paul Millsap finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th consecutive double-double and set the tone as the Jazz outebounded New Orleans 55-26. He also slowed David West who was coming off a career game the night before.
Only 24 hours earlier, West scored 40 points - - 27 in the second half - - as the Hornets snapped the Lakers' 15-game home winning streak. West had 13 points and six rebounds Wednesday but went 4 of 14 with three turnovers.
The Jazz stifled the Hornets in a November 2007 game, holding them to just seven points in the fourth quarter, and the second quarter Wednesday looked eerily familiar. The Hornets made only 2 of 13 shots (1 of 7 three-pointers) and lost the quarter 29-13.
For a stretch, the Jazz's best offense seemed to come with Millsap following up missed shots. But they pushed in front with a 9-0 run that saw Kyle Korver finally hit a three-pointer after missing eight in a row over three games.
The Hornets struggled with the Jazz's zone defense throughout the quarter. Korver buried another three-pointer and the Jazz closed the half ahead 58-46 after Andrei Kirilenko converted two free throws after Williams was blocked by Tyson Chandler.
Williams opened the game with three turnovers and was screened out of two plays by Chandler. Paul picked up his first foul only 32 seconds in, but the Jazz were unable to send the Hornets' star to the bench with a second personal the rest of the quarter.
Paul had 12 points and four assists in the first quarter, capped by a basket inside against Brevin Knight, one of the few players small enough for Paul to post up. The Hornets led by nine early and closed the first quarter with a 33-29 edge.
