Jazz beat Suns for second straight victory

Scoring in single digits in any quarter of an NBA game is sure path to failure.

The once-high scoring but now lifeless Phoenix Suns found this out when the visiting Utah Jazz shut them down in the second quarter, then cruised to an easy 87-80 win.

Al Jefferson led the Jazz (17-17) with 21 points and eight rebounds. Paul Millsap had a great all-around game with 19 points, 10 boards and five steals.

"I thought he was the key to the game," Jazz coach Ty Corbin said.

Millsap said, "That's why every game is so important; you never know which one is going to be your confidence booster."

The Suns, losers of seven of the past eight, fell to 12-22. They were led by Marcin Gortat with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Suns scored 31 points in the first quarter (they led 31-25), then 31 more in the next two periods. To get to 80, they put up 10 meaningless points in the final 2:26.

"The last three quarters were just the worst we could have possibly played," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said.

Gortat said, "It's just all about competing and playing hard. And quite honestly, we are not doing it."

After the Jazz' so-so start, "We handled the first part of the pick-and-roll defense better," Corbin said.

The Suns committed 20 turnovers while scoring just 34 baskets.

They made the game close only briefly, when they pulled to within 51-50 midway through the third quarter.

Then Jefferson hit two free throws, Randy Foye nailed a runner, then Jefferson scored near the hoop, then hit two jumpers. The Jazz now led 61-52; they cruised thereafter. They led 87-71 with 2:30 left.

The Jazz were without backup big man Enes Kanter, out with a sprained ankle. They'll also have to go without starting point guard Mo Williams for several weeks after Williams underwent thumb surgery.