Utah Jazz trail Oklahoma City at halftime, 49-44

Published: Friday, Feb. 10 2012 9:57 p.m. MST

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gets to the hoop for a basket in front of Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap, rear, during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Steve C. Wilson)

STEVE C. WILSON, AP

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Summary

Al Jefferson believes the Oklahoma City Thunder is the best team in the NBA.

SALT LAKE CITY — Al Jefferson believes the Oklahoma City Thunder is the best team in the NBA.

Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant & Co. are showing why tonight at EnergySolutions Arena where they took a 49-44 lead into halftime over the Utah Jazz.

Westbrook has 15 points, while Serge Ibaka and Durant have combined for 21 points as the Thunder (20-6) took control of the game with a second-quarter surge.

Utah led 40-36 after Earl Watson and C.J. Miles hooked up for their third alley-oop play, but it quickly unravled for the Jazz.

OKC went on a 10-0 run, with Durant, Kendrick Perkins, Westbrook and Ibaka each contributing as the Thunder took a 46-40 lead.

Raja Bell leads the Jazz with 10 points, including two 3-pointers. Jefferson and Miles each have eight points, and Devin Harris has tallied six points and four assists.

OKC lost a tight game in Sacramento on Thursday night, and the 13-11 Jazz have been home for two days since falling twice on the road at New York and Indiana.

Email: jody@desnews.com

Twitter: DJJazzyJody

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About the Author

Jody Genessy

Jody is a sports writer who covers the Utah Jazz for the Deseret News (yeah, rough life). He also writes about his fitness/health journey and triathlon exploits in his "Losing It!" column. He has been with the paper since more ..

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