Jazz 99, Bobcats 93
JAZZ 99, BOBCATS 93: Al Jefferson collected 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists as visiting Utah crept back to .500 with its fourth win in the last five games while denying Charlotte its first back-to-back victories.
The Jazz front line dominated, with forwards Paul Millsap, Josh Howard and Derrick Favors combining for 42 points and 17 rebounds around Jefferson in the middle.
Utah is currently one of four teams within a game of the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.
The Bobcats, who snapped a five-game slide with a rare victory over Orlando on Tuesday, could not find the magic two nights in a row. Charlotte hung around through the first half, going into the break down 51-47.
The Jazz took over at the start of the third, getting six points from Jefferson during a 12-2 run to begin the frame. They would stretch the lead to 18 points early in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats made a brief run.
Charlotte brought it down to 92-83 with 3:48 left but committed turnovers on two straight possessions and missed two shots as Utah coasted to the finish.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Corey Maggette was the only starter in double figures with 25 points for the Bobcats. … The Bobcats committed 16 turnovers … Utah still has to play at Philadelphia on Friday and at Chicago on Saturday to complete its five-game road trip.