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New Orleans • C.J. Miles rediscovered his touch. Utah's rookies continued their rise. And the Jazz pulled it together for a full 48 minutes Monday to down the Hornets 90-78 at New Orleans Arena.

Miles scored 18 points and sank three 3-pointers to guide the Jazz (38-43), while Gordon Hayward added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

"We weren't having fun … and it was taking away from the game," Miles said. "We just wanted to play … and you could see it."

Chris Paul's 15 points topped the Hornets (46-35), who fell to eighth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Memphis.

Utah improved to 2-2 in its past four games, with wins against playoff-bound opponents the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans.

The Jazz will close out their 2010-11 season Wednesday, with a home game against Denver.

Utah looked more like the team that upset the Lakers on the road Tuesday than the one that dropped back-to-back games by a combined 20 points heading into Monday.

"It feels like we are a playoff team," Utah forward Paul Millsap said. "We beat a playoff team [Monday]. We beat the Lakers the other night. So it feels like we are a playoff team; just under the circumstances it just didn't happen."

The Jazz's defense also tightened up, holding a messy, unfocused New Orleans squad to just 37.8 percent (28 of 74) shooting.

Hayward hit his first five shots, and Utah jumped out to a 27-14 lead after Miles sank a 3-pointer with 1:43 left in the first quarter.

The Hornets closed within three, at 29-26, after a 3 by Quincy Pondexter. But a 14-6 Utah run followed, sparked by contributions from reserves Earl Watson and Derrick Favors. The Jazz took a 47-37 advantage into halftime.

Utah shot 58.3 percent from the field in the first half, recording 21 baskets on 16 assists. Starters Miles, Hayward, Millsap and Devin Harris (18 points) each poured in at least eight points before the break.

Millsap left the game midway through the third quarter after being hit in the right eye but returned with 6:07 left in the game.

"I am very pleased," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "The guys … did a really good job of playing hard, and counting on each other, and we are continuing to grow. That is the most encouraging thing: We are getting better at the things we talk about in practice; the things we talk about we need to get better at."

Miles hurt on layup try

Miles sat out the final 4:15 after injuring his left leg on a layup try. —

Last game of season

P Nuggets vs. Jazz6 p.m. Wednesday

TV • ROOT Sports