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Jazz rally in second half to down Clippers

Nov 28, 2010 - 11:27 PM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Deron Williams led six Jazz players in double figures with 26, and Utah used a strong third quarter to beat the Clippers, 109-97, at Staples Center.

Williams added nine assists for the Jazz, who have won five straight overall and six straight on the road. C.J. Miles added 16 points, while Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko both had 15 in the victory.

Utah trailed by as many as 10 and 60-52 at halftime, but outscored Los Angeles by a 27-14 margin in the third quarter to win comfortably.

"They killed us offensively in the first half. We ran the floor better in the second half and slowed them down a bit," Utah head coach Jerry Sloan said. "Our guys were playing well together, and our bench has given us a tremendous lift."

Blake Griffin posted 35 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers, who have lost two straight following back-to-back wins. Eric Gordon contributed 21 points in defeat.

"Give Utah credit, they executed so well," Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said. "In the first half, we had good ball movement. In the second half, we didn't, and we couldn't slow them down. They controlled the tempo, and our lack of control in the paint hurt us."

The Clippers grabbed a 32-30 lead after the first quarter and finished the first half on a 15-4 run to extend the advantage.

The surge began with 11 consecutive points -- the first five by Griffin. Ryan Gomes and Eric Bledsoe both made a layup to make it 56-48, and Bledsoe scored the final four points in between two Utah baskets for a 60-52 halftime edge.

In the third, though, the Jazz responded.

Trailing by 10, Utah ripped off 13 straight points in a 2 1/2-minute span. Kirilenko, Williams and Raja Bell each hit from long distance for a 65-62 lead.

Los Angeles battled back to tie the game, 68-68, but the Jazz scored the next seven points -- five by Williams -- to go back in front. It was 79-74 heading to the fourth.

With a six-point margin and just over nine minutes remaining, Utah sealed the game with a 10-2 burst. Miles had five during the stretch, and Francisco Elson the other five, including a three-point play with 7 1/2 minutes left for a 92-78 contest.

The Clippers didn't get closer than nine the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Utah leads the season series, 2-0...The Jazz are 7-2 on the road overall...Gordon has scored 20 or more in 12 of the last 13 games...Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu both had 12 points for the Clippers...Utah shot 58.6 percent from the field.