Jefferson scores 21 to lift Jazz over Bobcats
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Al Jefferson scored 21 points, Paul Millsap added 12 rebounds and the short-handed Utah Jazz blocked 10 shots to hold off the Charlotte Bobcats, 83-78, on Monday night.
The Jazz won despite being without star point guard Deron Williams for the third straight game because of a wrist injury.
Stephen Jackson led Charlotte with 24 points, while D.J. Augustin added 20 for the Bobcats, who have lost two straight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Bobcats trailed by as many as 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but pulled within 76-74 on a 3-pointer by Jackson with 4:19 remaining.
Jefferson bumped Utah's lead back to 79-74 on a layup, but a pair of free throws by Jackson made it a one-possession game again. He made two more free throws to pull Charlotte with one point with 1:58 left.
Millsap grabbed two offensive rebounds off misses before being fouled with 40 seconds left. He made both free throws for an 81-78 Utah lead.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Gerald Wallace missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it for Charlotte and Jazz guard Raja Bell grabbed the defensive rebound then made both free throws for the final margin.
It was a game of runs.
The Jazz started the game with an 11-0 run, and Charlotte fought back with a 10-0 run of its own.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Utah opened the second half with another 11-0 run to take a 54-41 lead only to see the Bobcats go on a 13-2 run to pull within 56-54.
Utah started the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 72-62 lead.
Again the Bobcats fought back behind their backcourt duo.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}But it wouldn't be enough down the stretch.
Earl Watson, starting his third straight game in place of Williams, picked up two fouls in the first period and a third foul with 7:53 left in the second quarter. He finished with five points and six assists in 19 minutes.
The Jazz led 24-18 after one quarter, with Jefferson leading the way. He had nine points, four rebounds and three blocks in the quarter, while C.J. Miles added five points, including a 3-pointer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Utah led by as many as nine points in the second quarter (39-30) after another 3-pointer by Miles and a jumper by Jefferson.
But Charlotte came back again. The Bobcats tied it at 41 on a three-point play by Augustin with about a minute remaining before halftime, but trailed 43-41 going into the locker room on a short jump shot by Bell.
Utah shot 52.9 percent and held a 26-14 rebounding edge in the first half but also had 14 turnovers.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Notes: Utah had seven blocked shots in the first half. ... BYU star guard Jimmer Fredette was in the crowd to watch. ... Jazz reserve C Mehmet Okur missed his 35th game of the season, and the second straight with a lower-back strain.