Utah Jazz: Duo carries shorthanded team

Two starters, sick center Mehmet Okur and also-ill shooting guard Ronnie Brewer, were absent from the start.

By the time injured small forward Andrei Kirilenko bowed out at halftime due to muscle spasms in his right calf, the Jazz were missing more than 35 points from their starting lineup.

But point guard Deron Williams and power forward Carlos Boozer made up much of the difference Friday night, combining for 66 points in the Jazz's 121-101 victory over the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.

It was the first time this season the two — who usually average a combined 41 — have teamed for that many points.

And it was something both sensed they needed to do from the start.

"We just looked at each other," Boozer said after the Northwest Division-leading Jazz closed a five-game homestand 4-1 and improved to 48-25 overall. "We knew when we've got people out, we have the ability to raise our game to another level. And we did that tonight. We had to. We miss a lot when Memo's out of the game, A.K.'s, out of the game, Ronnie Brewer."

"You've got 14 points (Okur) and 12 points (Brewer) missing from our starting lineup," Williams added, "so we definitely have to be more aggressive to start the game. And I think we did that, and set the tone."

Boozer finished with a game-high 34 points and a season high-tying 17 rebounds, marking his 49th double-double of the season — third-most in the NBA behind only Orlando's Dwight Howard and Minnesota's Al Jefferson.

But it was Williams who established control early on, scoring 22 of his 32 points before the break. Williams, who shot 13-of-15 from the field, also dished 10 assists for his 46th double-double this season.

"It was great for him to take over," Boozer said.

"He sees so much, and knows so much, for a young player," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan added with regard to Williams, who scored 14 in the first quarter and helped Utah to a 56-43 halftime lead. "It's really unusual, as long as I've been around. You know, John (Stockton) didn't get to play his first two-and-a-half years."

Williams' first-half effort showing against the Pacific Division cellar-dwelling Clippers (21-51) was over the top.

Quite literally, in one instance.

When backup power forward Paul Millsap — who also was throwing up Friday night, though he managed to play — tapped a steal from Smush Parker to his point, Williams soared over 7-foot Clippers center Chris Kaman for a rather memorable dunk.

Williams tried to downplay the jam, suggested Kaman — one of the NBA's top shot blockers — could have rejected him had he been a bit more daring.