Just when the Jazz thought things couldn't get worse on the road, Kleiza embarrassed them for a career-high 41 points as the Denver Nuggets ran away with a 120-109 victory at Pepsi Center over their chief Northwest Division rivals.
Kleiza came in averaging 10.3 points a game this season and had scored 42 points combined in Denver's previous five games. He beat the Jazz defense down court time and again, however, and nearly matched his old career high of 29 in the first half.
"I wished everybody ran the way Linas Kleiza runs,'' Denver coach George Karl said. "No way I could have predicted 41 points."
It was a deflating loss for the Jazz, who were seeking a victory to validate their recent success at home in winning four consecutive games and six of seven. But they squandered the chance to pull even with Denver in the standings and fell to 6-15 on the road.
Denver's Marcus Camby, the reigning NBA defensive player of the year, narrowly missed an incredible triple-double with eight points, 24 rebounds and 11 blocks. Camby's blocks were an NBA season-high while his rebounds tied the league mark.
After predicting that Thursday's game would be decided by his team's determination, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan could only watch as the Nuggets ran for 38 points on the fast break, twice their season average of 16.5.
Kleiza had 27 points in the first half and 20 in the second quarter alone, hitting two three-pointers and outrunning the Jazz for a series of baskets on the break. He attacked for a dunk and hit a short jumper after Camby tipped an offensive rebound to him.
"I knew he was a good shooter,'' Mehmet Okur said. "We were more focused on A.I. and Melo and he just took off and he attacked us and he got to the free-throw line."
"He's one of those guys that leaks out and takes off,'' Carlos Boozer added. "Obviously, after the first half we knew that, but he kept doing it in the second half as well. We just didn't do a good job of helping each other."
Kleiza kept rolling and had 36 points by the end of the third quarter. He caught the Jazz flat-footed for a short jumper after Okur was called for three seconds. After Okur missed a three-pointer, Kleiza ran out for a three-point play at Okur's expense at the other end.
The quality of shots the Jazz took played right into Denver's hands. Kyle Korver, who kept the Jazz in the game with 16 points in the first half, missed a three-pointer. Kleiza got behind the Jazz defense off the rebound and Korver had to hammer him before giving up a layup.
With Camby grabbing so many rebounds, Kleiza had free reign to run. "By the time the shot goes up, he's gone,'' Deron Williams said. Sloan was testy afterward in saying that maybe reporters would get a better explanation than he did for why his team couldn't get back on defense.
"I mean, I asked them that and I didn't get much response,'' Sloan said. "Maybe you'll get more response than I got."
The Jazz trailed 98-88 entering the fourth quarter and Kleiza put the game out of reach with a three-pointer that made it 112-96 with 6:34 left. The Lithuania native joined Tracy McGrady, LeBron James and Josh Howard on the list of 40-point scorers against the Jazz this season.
Hard to believe, but Kleiza was in the starting lineup only due to Kenyon Martin being out with a staph infection. "He's an NBA player,'' Sloan said. "He gets paid by the NBA. That's why you expect anything if you don't come out and compete like the devil."
It was the 10th time in 40 games the Jazz have given up 110 points or more. Talking about the opportunity lost afterward, Boozer said: "It was tough because we had a chance to get back in the standings. Now we have to wait a little bit."
rsiler@sltrib.com
