Utah Jazz buzz past Hornets

Jazz-Hornets boxscore

SALT LAKE CITY — Forget that boring and overdone "Who's better?" debate over the top-tier of point guards.

The real question Utah Jazz fans might want to ask the NBA is this: Can more games featuring Deron Williams vs. Chris Paul be scheduled?

For one thing, the two put on a show Wednesday night — each giving their supporters more proof and validation for their premiere-playmaker arguments..

In the first half, at least.

As usual, it was D-Will's Utah Jazz who ended up on the winning side of the scoreboard over CP3's New Orleans Hornets, who eventually fizzled like the Great Blizzard of 2010.

Williams scored 26 points and dished out 11 assists — and Utah got a big game from Big Al and another brilliant outing from its bench bunch — in the Jazz's energetic and electric 105-87 victory over the Hornets at a rocking EnergySolutions Arena.

"I thought we played hard all night long," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said in as big of compliment as the labor-loving coach can give.

For those counting at home — and many are — Williams is now 12-3 in head-to-head match-ups against his eternally linked star pal who has received more recognition and awards since they joined the league together in 2005.

Jefferson thoroughly enjoyed his first up-close-and-personal experience in the rivalry that everybody but D-Will and CP3 seems to like bantering about..

"When I was with the Timberwolves I used to always look for that matchup, to see them two go against each other. And to be a part of it is just amazing," Jefferson said. "They're two great point guards going head-to-head, and plus they're best friends too. It's just very exciting to see."

Especially for 19,237 attending Jazz fans, who witnessed Williams and Utah outplay Paul and New Orleans overall. Paul finished with 17 points and nine assists but only had two points after halftime.

"He goes and we go, and he knows that," Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko said of Williams, who had 12 second-half points. "He motivates us to play well."

This game wasn't just about the brighter of the two stars, though.

In fact, it wasn't even just about the starters for the Jazz again, although Jefferson's 23-point, 10-rebound outing and Paul Millsap's 17-point, seven-board night came in handy as Utah won its third straight.