The Jazz might be getting Deron Williams back for Wednesday's game against Portland, but it has been finding ways to win without its star point guard.
The Jazz improved to 3-0 without Williams by beating the Clippers on Monday for the second time in three days. Through three games, the Jazz is giving up just 82 points a game, down more than 17 points from last season. For the first time, the Jazz beat a full-strength team, with Baron Davis and Marcus Camby returning from injuries. The Jazz also won its first road game, no small feat considering it went 17-24 on the road last season.
Next, the Jazz will get its third look of the young season at the Trail Blazers. It played Portland twice during the preseason but never saw them whole. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez all sat out one or both preseason games.
Even though the Jazz breezed to the Northwest Division title last season, it lost three of four games against the Blazers. The Jazz was victimized by big games from Roy, Aldridge, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster but can redeem itself beginning Wednesday.
JAZZ 89, CLIPPERS 73: Paul Millsap took over by himself in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 consecutive points as the Jazz broke open a five-point game. Millsap finished with 24 points and nine rebounds and brought the Jazz bench to its feet with a turnaround jumper over Tim Thomas and a dunk over Chris Kaman.
As well as Millsap was playing, Carlos Boozer didn't get off the bench in the fourth quarter. Millsap, a third-year forward and former second-round draft pick, is one of several Jazz players in a contract year.
