Jazz 90, Hornets 78
C.J. Miles collected 18 points, five rebounds and five assists and Devin Harris chipped in 18 points as the visiting Utah Jazz won for just the second time in the last 12 games, 90-78, over the New Orleans Hornets on Monday.
Paul Millsap scored 16 and Gordon Hayward added 14 for the Jazz (38-43), who are suffering through their first losing season since the 2004-05 campaign.
The Hornets (46-35) have dropped two straight to fall one-half game behind the Memphis Grizzlies (46-34) into the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. Eighth would help New Orleans avoid a first-round date with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Utah took control from the start on Monday, jumping out to an eight-point lead, 29-21, after the first quarter and increasing it slowly throughout. The Hornets never managed to draw closer than 11 points in the final quarter and shot just 38 percent (28 of 74) from the field.
Chris Paul finished with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead New Orleans.