Hornets 100, Jazz 71
David West had a game-high 21 points and Chris Paul finished with 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as the New Orleans Hornets dominated the Utah Jazz, 100-71, on Friday.
Trevor Ariza pitched in 17 points and Marcus Thornton scored 19 off the bench for the Hornets, who dominated the glass with a 53-24 rebounding advantage.
New Orleans exerted its defensive muscle early on Friday, holding the Jazz to 14 points in the first quarter and 33 in the first half to take a 17-point lead into the break.
The Hornets really spread it out in the third, opening the quarter with a 14-4 spurt capped by Paul, who drove in for a layup and completed a three-point play.
Thornton had been relegated to the end of the bench for most of the season before carrying the team in an opportunity against Sacramento on Wednesday. He proved he belonged again on Friday, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter and providing the dagger when he 3-pointer capped an 8-2 burst in the fourth.
Paul Millsap scored 14 points and Deron Williams finished with 10 on 4-of-12 shooting for Utah.