C.J Miles and Devin Harris unite to boost Utah Jazz over playoff-bound New Orleans Hornets, 90-78
Forward C.J. Miles and point-guard Devin Harris turned on the heat as the Utah Jazz pinned the New Orleans Hornets 90-78 at the New Orleans Arena on Monday night. Both Miles and Harris finished with game-high 18 points.
The Hornets are known for their stingy defence, but in this game they failed to restrict the Jazz, who shot over 55 percent from the floor. Off late, the Jazz had been embroiled in a wretched tail spin, which saw them lose 10 of
their last 11 contests. A win against the defensively stout and the play-off bound Hornets will surely bring confidence within the ranks of the Salt Lake City franchise as the regular season draws closer to its end.
Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said after the game: "Guys are playing for development and not going into the playoff. They did a good job of just coming out and playing hard and relying on each other. We continue to grow.”
“That's the most encouraging this is that we're getting better with the things we're talking about, especially on the defensive end of the floor. ... That's what we talked about; having character. We carried it through. Whether
(playoffs) were on the line or not on the line, we're just trying to create an identity."
Utah tipped-off belligerently and knocked down the first eight points of the game in a run which saw Harris hitting back-to-back threes. A few minutes later, Jazz grabbed their first double-figure lead when Gordon Hayward made
a free throw on Trevor Ariza’s foul, to make it 21-11. The Jazz kept on rattling the Hornet throughout the first twelve minutes of play, which ended at 29-21. Miles made 10 points for the Jazz during that period. Six of his points came from the three point
range.
New Orleans slightly shaved off their deficit to 29-26 in the early minutes of the second quarter, but the Jazz retaliated with Hayward's floater and Favors' dip shot that pushed the lead to 33-26. Utah continued their high tempo
offensive charge and restored the lead to 12 when Miles dished one on Al Jefferson assist. The Jazz led by 47-37 at halftime.
Jazz kept their assault going and gave an unusually fragile defence of the Hornets a rough time. The Hornets came never closer than six points throughout and the Jazz went on securing another quarter in their favour, finishing
with a 70-57 advantage after three.
Any hopes of a mounting a comeback that the Hornets had in the fourth quarter, were quashed by their own cold shooting. The Hornets misfired from all ranges including three free throws, three floaters and two three-point attempts.
As a result, the Jazz ultimately went on to sealing the game by 12 points.
Four out of Utah’s five starters made it into the double-digits. Paul Millsap scored 16 points while Hayward added 14.
Chris Paul led the Hornets with 15 points, guard Marco Belinelli made 13, while Willie Green and Jason Smith contributed 12 each off the bench.
With this loss the Hornets slide to the eighth spot in the Western Conference. They are now a half game behind Memphis Grizzlies and one and a half games behind Portland Trail Blazers.
The Hornets can still make it to the sixth position. To do that, they will have to beat the Dallas Mavericks in their final game on Wednesday and then hope that the Grizzlies first beat the Trail Blazers and then lose to the Cleveland
Cavaliers. In addition to that, the Trail Blazers should also lose their last game to facilitate the Hornets quest.
Next up the Jazz will meet the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, while the Hornets will take on the Dallas Mavericks.
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