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Boozer, Okur help Jazz continue home dominance of Clippers

Dec 27, 2006 - 6:34 AM SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur helped the Utah Jazz write a familiar tune against the Los Angeles Clippers on their home floor.

Boozer and Okur controlled things on the inside as the Jazz continued their home dominance of the Clippers with a 102-92 victory.

Boozer had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Okur contributed 24 and 11, helping the Jazz beat the Clippers for the 34th time in the last 35 tries on their home floor.

"They're a good team," Boozer said. "They're having a tough year, but there a lot better than their record shows."

"This has been a tough place for us to say the least," said Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team is 0-3 against the Jazz this season.

Deron Williams added 21 points and seven assists for the Jazz, who used a 21-12 run over the final 5:13 to eventually pull away.

"You'll have to give them (the Clippers) credit because they came out and they stayed close with us all night," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "You see what happens when you take a couple quick shots and don't execute your offense then you let them back in the ball game."

Gordan Giricek drilled a pair of 3-pointers and Okur's shot from the arc gave the Jazz a 93-84 advantage with 2:01 remaining.

"We just try to create for everybody, but I was open at right place, right time. I was open and I just hit the shots," Okur said.

Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko did not play in the second half after taking an elbow from Corey Maggette in the chin in the second quarter while defending a shot.

Elton Brand scored 21 points and Maggette had 19 for disappointing Los Angeles, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

After making the playoffs last season for the first time since 1997, the Clippers are mired in last place in the Pacific Division.

"We just need to keep working hard. I think tonight was a great thing as far as our effort," Maggette said.