Chris Paul slices and dices Jazz in 107-105 win

SALT LAKE CITY — Where's Deron Williams when you need him?

Wherever the New Jersey Nets are right now is the answer, of course.

The Utah Jazz, who've fared fine without him this season, sure could have used the All-Star point guard on Wednesday night in a 107-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Two weeks after blowing out the Clippers with Chris Paul on the sideline injured, the Jazz got sliced and diced by elite playmaker who used to struggle mightily against D-Will.

And, no, there is no Paul-Devin Harris debate.

CP3 scored 34 points with three 3-pointers, dished out 11 assists and grabbed five rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Clippers (13-6).

Another killer for the Clippers, who got their first win in Utah in 16 tries and since Jan. 22, 2003?

The guy you might've seen 1,000,000 times on ESPN this week.

Blake Griffin, the dynamic dunker, scored more points in the first quarter (14) than he did the entire night (10) two weeks ago when the Jazz walloped L.A. 108-79.

Griffin finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, outplaying Paul Millsap (14 points, seven rebounds).

"It's a tough loss," Jazz swingman C.J. Miles said.

Center Al Jefferson, back from his ankle injury, led Utah (12-8) with 27 points and 12 rebounds.

The Jazz also got 16 points from Miles, who made things interesting in the final eight seconds when he drilled a 3-pointer to bring Utah within one a moment after a Millsap three.

But Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams each hit key free throws in the final seconds to clinch the rare Clipper victory at ESA.

"We put ourselves in a position to try to win the game," Miles said. "We had a couple of chances where we didn't convert and they converted."

Indeed.

The Jazz could have tied the game or taken the lead in the final minute, but Millsap was called for a charge against Griffin and then Miles fouled Williams when a long Clipper miss ended up in the L.A. guard's hands.

Williams' freebies with 30.7 seconds remaining gave the Clippers an important four-point advantage.

Paul and Griffin weren't the only things that hurt the Jazz's chances.