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Jazz kick off road trip in Big Easy vs. Hornets

Dec 17, 2010 - 4:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz will kick off a four-game road trip tonight against the New Orleans Hornets in the Big Easy.

Utah will also make stops in Milwaukee, Cleveland and Minnesota, and is 7-3 away from Salt Lake City this season. It is has alternated wins and losses over the past seven games and recorded a 108-95 triumph versus Golden State on Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.

Deron Williams had 30 points and 10 assists, while Al Jefferson added 13 points, eight rebounds and six blocks for Utah, which rebounded from a loss at Dallas on Saturday.

"He just took the game over and put it in his hand and made shots, made plays. I'd have to say this is as good as I have ever seen him play," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said of Williams.

C.J. Miles scored 20 points in a winning effort. Paul Millsap contributed 16 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz, who forced 19 turnovers. Williams has scored at least 30 points the past three games and is currently averaging 25.7 points per game in the month of December.

Jazz guard Raja Bell is questionable for Friday's game with a strained right adductor/groin.

New Orleans won for just the fourth time in 13 tries with a 94-91 triumph versus Sacramento on Wednesday.

Marcus Thornton scored 19 points off the bench, Chris Paul finished with 22 points and 11 assists and David West contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Hornets, who overcame a 23-point deficit in the second half to improve to 10-3 at home this season.

"It felt good. At the end of the play I started screaming," Thornton said of his big basket. "This is one of those games to get us going."

It was the largest comeback victory in Hornets franchise history. Paul has scored 20 or more points in two of his last three games.

Utah topped the Hornets, 105-87, on Nov. 24 this season in Salt Lake City and has won four straight and eight of the past nine meetings in the series. The Jazz are unbeaten in their last four in the Big Easy.