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Millsap shines as Jazz pull away from Clippers

Nov 4, 2008 - 7:22 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Paul Millsap was quick to credit much of his late scoring onslaught on Monday to a new pregame meal.

"It worked for me," said the third-year forward on his selection of chicken prior to tip-off. "So obviously, I'll continue to eat it."

Indeed, it did work.

Millsap scored 15 of his 24 points in the decisive fourth quarter as Utah Jazz pulled away from the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday to post an 89-73 victory.

"He almost played perfect in that fourth quarter," Jazz starting power forward Carlos Boozer said. "It's great to see him play that way."

Mehmet Okur scored 16 points and Andrei Kirilenko finished with 15 and 11 rebounds in Utah's second win in three days over Los Angeles.

Despite playing at full strength for the first time this season, the Clippers couldn't break through into the win column, dropping their record to 0-4.

The Jazz, meanwhile, remained unbeaten and picked up an all-important first road victory. Last season, they were a league-best 37-4 at home but struggled mightily on the road to the tune of a 17-24 record.

"Our focus this year was to be a good road team, because we weren't last year," Boozer said. "So far, we're 1-0 on the road."

Chris Kaman had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Baron Davis returned from a one-game absence because of a sore left hip to post 14 points and nine assists.

Marcus Camby made his season debut after missing all of the preseason and opening three games with a bruised right heel. The former All-Star center had five points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.

"It's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel with those guys coming back because everyone knows what they're capable of doing," Kaman said. "If we can get everything on paper out on that floor to come together, we'll be better."

Playing without point guard Deron Williams for the third straight game, the Jazz carried a 65-60 lead into the final quarter before Millsap completely took over.

The third-year forward scored 15 points during a 17-3 run midway through the quarter to give his team their largest lead at 84-67 with 4:37 remaining.

"Once you get in that zone, things start going your way," Millsap said. "You start seeing where the ball is going to go before it goes there. That's what it felt like when I was out there doing that."

The Clippers had gotten to within 67-64 on Cuttino Mobley's 3-pointer with 9:44 left to play, but Okur sparked the ensuing burst with an off-balance jumper as the shot clock expired. Millsap did the rest, hitting five shots and four free throws for Utah's next 15 points.

Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan, for one, wasn't surprised by the outburst.

"He has that ability, if things go his way," Sloan said.

Still, Millsap plans on being hungry as ever despite being the top dog for a day.

"I'll continue to go out there and work hard and do the little things that got me to where I'm at," he said.