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Prior to the New Orleans Hornets game against the Utah Jazz, the Hornets came in at 15-10.

But do not let that record fool you. While New Orleans is above .500, they were at one time 11-1, with a 4-9 slump in between. But one thing is for certain: this is a team that will suffer through long losing streaks, even with Monty Williams as their head coach.

The Jazz, at least in this blogger’s eyes, seemed to be the ideal opponent for the Hornets as Utah has a pretty strong core of players in their starting five.

As it would turn out, the Jazz would have few sweet notes to come out of the 12 players who played Friday night as they shot only 35 percent from the floor.

The end result would not be pretty as New Orleans easily manhandled Utah 100-71.

The Hornets would build their first sizeable lead after after a turnaround jumper by the Jazz’ Al Jefferson, which had pulled Utah to within 16-14 in the opening period.

But New Orleans scored the next 11 points, highlighted by Marcus Thornton’s pair of baskets early in the second quarter. Thornton would later hit his first 3-pointer of the game, making the Hornets lead 18 at 40-22. the Hornets’ lead would rise to 48-28 on a Trevor Ariza dunk and a floater in the lane by Chris Paul.

New Orleans would go into their locker room ahead 50-33 at the intermission.

The Hornets would pick up where they left off in the third quarter as they entered the fourth quarter with an 81-54 cushion and would coast for the final twelve minutes to earn the victory.

David West led all Hornets scorers with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocks while Marcus Thornton came off the bench to add 19 (including three 3-pointers) with 5 rebounds, an assist and 2 steals. Ariza chipped in 17 with 7 rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.

Just three Jazz players scored in double-digits, led by Paul Millsap with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block while Deron Williams and Jefferson added 10 each – with Williams grabbing a pair of rebounds and dishing out 5 assists while Jefferson grabbed 3 boards along with a steal and a block.

New Orleans (16-10) now goes out on a tour of the Central Division when they face Detroit Sunday night while Utah (18-9) also starts a tour of the Central as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night.