Final: New Orleans Hornets 86, Utah Jazz 80

NBA » Utah couldn’t win second consecutive game on the road.

By Brian T. Smith

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Feb 13 2012 05:40 pm • Last Updated Feb 14 2012 12:05 pm

New Orleans • Chris Kaman’s game-high 27 points and 13 rebounds led the Hornets to an 86-80 victory against the Jazz on Monday at New Orleans Arena.

Derrick Favors’ 14 points topped Utah.

It was the Hornets’ (5-23) first win in nine games and only their third in 26. New Orleans had just nine active players and played without Eric Gordon, Jarrett Jack and Emeka Okafor, among others.

The Jazz (14-13) fell to 1-1 on their back-to-back-to-back road trip and face NBA-leading Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS

The First: Jazz 21, Hornets 20

Utah starts slow and appears unmotivated against a struggling New Orleans team with only nine active players. The Hornets are just 6 of 18 from the field, but capitalize on four Jazz turnovers.

The Second: Hornets 41, Jazz 36

Utah’s lethargy continues. The Jazz enter the break shooting just 39 percent and committing four turnovers, while New Orleans continually fights for and wins loose balls.

The Third: Hornets 66, Jazz 51

The Jazz’s lack of intensity and mental focus only gets worse, and the Hornets take a 55-42 lead after Marco Belinelli converts a three-point play. Utah finally wakes up late in the quarter.

The Fourth: Hornets 86, Jazz 80

Young reserves Alec Burks, Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors bring much-needed energy and Utah pulls within 79-72 with 3:17 to go. But after edging within three, New Orleans finishes off the damage.

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