By the Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — Mike Conley snapped an early-season slump with 29 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 110-96 on Wednesday night with Kawhi Leonard sitting out.
“I just wanted to get back to who I am,” Conley said.
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers guard Landry Shamet (20) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Conley had 18 points in the third quarter as the Jazz scored 40 in the period and took a 90-71 lead. Utah (4-1) has won three in a row.
Leonard missed the game for scheduled rest, though coach Doc Rivers has said his star forward has been healthy and energized. The Clippers play the second half of a back-to-back Thursday against San Antonio in Los Angeles.
Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 and Rudy Gobert 13.
Lou Williams paced the Clippers (3-2) with 24 points, 16 before halftime.
The matchup of one of the league’s top defenses against one of the top offenses lost some its luster without Leonard, but the Jazz showed how potent they could be with 55 percent shooting while holding their opponents below 100 points for the fifth straight game.
JaMychal Green, who had 23 points, led his fellow Clipper reserves in a fourth-quarter rally, cutting a 23-point edge to 99-89. Conley responded with a 3-pointer and a lob to Gobert for a dunk.
Conley struggled in his first four games with Utah after playing 12 years in Memphis, including a 1-for-16 shooting performance in the opener and an 0-for-7 outing in the last game. In recent days, he admitted it has taken more time than he expected to feel comfortable with the Jazz plays and terminology.
When Conley hit a 3-pointer and followed it with a tough layup high off the backboard in third quarter, he pumped his fist and yelled to the rafters. When Los Angeles called timeout, the entire Jazz bench leaped off the bench and ran onto the court to greet the point guard.
A few minutes later, Conley hit a high-arcing 3-pointer and motioned for the crowd to get louder. Cheers rang out and then turned into chants of “Con-ley, Con-ley, Con-ley”.
Conley made 11 of 17 shots, including five 3-pointers, and had five assists with a season-low two turnovers.
The Jazz were hot from the start and led by 14 points early in the second quarter. The Clippers trimmed the advantage to 52-51 at halftime.
Hornets rally from 14 down to beat winless Kings
Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams, and teammate Terry Rozier, slap palms during the closing moments of the Hornets’ 118-111 win over the Sacramento Kings. (AP Photo / Rich Pedroncelli)
P.J. Washington controlled the post well enough to keep Charlotte close until the rest of his teammates found their rhythm.
The Hornets rookie showed some versatility, too, when he stepped out and made a pair of shots beyond the arc.
Washington scored 23 points to lead seven Charlotte players in double figures and the Hornets rallied from 14 down to beat the winless Sacramento Kings 118-111 on Wednesday night.
“I thought he imposed his will on that game immediately when he stepped on the floor,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “Right now we have a young man that has that potential to go down in the post and play out in the perimeter. That’s a very complete young man.”
The 12th overall pick in the draft, Washington has been everything the Hornets hoped for, particularly playing center when Borrego goes with his small lineup.
Washington’s perimeter shooting has provided an equally big boost. He had two 3s against the Kings and is shooting 13 of 25 beyond the arc through five games.
“I’m shooting it with confidence,” Washington said. “If I have an open look I’m definitely taking it. If you don’t have a hand up I’m shooting it.”
Terry Rozier had 22 points, six assists and five rebounds for Charlotte, which hadn’t won since beating Chicago in the season-opener. The Hornets set a franchise-record with 23 3-pointers against the Bulls and had another big night beyond the arc against Sacramento, going 16 of 32.
Cody Zeller added 12 points and 15 rebounds for Charlotte (2-3) while Malik Monk scored 18.
Buddy Hield scored 23 points and Harrison Barnes had 22 for the Kings. Sacramento (0-5) is off to its worst start since 1990-91 when the Kings lost their first seven on the way to a 25-57 record.
“We have to punch back,” said Sacramento’s Richaun Holmes, who started at center as part of coach Luke Walton’s attempt to shake the Kings out of their funk. “Teams are going to make runs and we haven’t responded, especially in the third quarter. We get punched. We have to be ready to respond.”
The Hornets trailed 49-35 midway through the second quarter but closed within 66-61 at halftime, then took control in the third quarter. Rozier, Monk and Miles Bridges each made two 3-pointers, and Devonte Graham added a pair of free throws that made it 93-84.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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