Jazz’ Balanced Scoring The Difference, Smash Clippers 106-88

Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer (9) dunks against Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman (35) during the third quarter of their game, played Friday night. Utah defeated Los Angeles 106-88.

Friday’s game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz served as an example of one team completely dominating another in every conceivable category; the Jazz bettered the Clippers in the following: FG% (Utah 51.8%, Los Angeles 45.8%), rebounds (43-34), assists (28-19) and turnovers (Utah 10, Los Angeles 14) and steals (12-6). Any way you slice it, the Jazz dominated the Clippers in a convincing win, 106-88 at Salt Lake City.

Utah led 59-45 at halftime, then blew the game wide open after the Clippers opened the third quarter with a mini-run, capped by a dunk by the Clippers’ Chris Kaman, cutting the Jazz lead to 65-55. Later in the period, Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko dunked the ball to put the Jazz up 83-65; Kirilenko would then steal the ball and dunk the ball yet again, pushing the Jazz’ edge to 20. Los Angeles’ Kaman would score on a putback for the Clips, but Utah’s Mehmet Okur replied with a trey, giving Utah an insurmountable 88-67 lead late in the third quarter.

Utah had balanced scoring with 7 players in double-digits, led by Carlos Boozer with 19 points and 10 rebounds; Deron Williams added 15, while Kirilenko chipped in with 13 with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Los Angeles was led by Corey Maggette with 20 points, while Sam Cassell and Kaman scored 16 each, with Kaman also grabbing 16 boards. Utah (23-18) hopes to improve their road record as they fly to Los Angeles for a rematch with the Clippers (11-24) Monday night, while Los Angeles returns home to host the New Jersey Nets Saturday.