In the their first game since the All-Star break, the Hornets got another solid game from rookie point guard Darren Collison and veteran Peja Stojakovic, but it was a reserve for the Jazz that help lead Utah to their 15
th victory in 17 games with a 98-90 win.
Paul Millsap, who played collegiately at Louisiana Tech, knocked down 11 of his 13 shots to finish with 24 points on the night. It was Millsap’s second straight 20 point plus night, both above his average of 11 a game.
Collison and Stojakovic each had 24 points on the night and were easily the most productive players on the court offensively for the Hornets. Forward David West had one of those “lost” games where he was never in sync. West struggled thanks to early foul trouble and didn’t get his first points of the game until the second half, finishing with five points and five fouls in just 26 minutes of action.
Morris Peterson started at shooting guard and was ineffective shooting one of six from the field, oh for two from three point land to finish with three points in 21 minutes of action. Marcus Thornton had 14 on the night but missed ten of his 16 shots.
Jazz point guard Deron Williams was held to 16 points and teammate forward Carlos Boozer also finished with 16.
The game was one on in which the Hornets were in, and had a chance to win, but failed to execute late. Hornets forward James Posey tied things up at 85 a piece with a three-pointer with just over three minutes to play. Boozer then scored six points in the final minutes as the Hornets defense failed to get a stop.
The Hornets fall to 28-26 on the season, while Utah improves to 34-19. Next up for the Hornets, the Indiana Pacers at the Hive at 7pm on Friday night.
