Posted: 9:19 PM- The Jazz turned a close game into a rout with a 44-point third quarter Friday night, when Utah won for the fifth time in seven games with a 120-94 victory over Sacramento.
Memo Okur scored 20 points, C.J. Miles scored 16 of his 18 in the decisive third quarter and Deron Williams posted a 13-point, 15-assist double-double as the Jazz improved to 7-1 this season at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah made 16 of its 19 field-goal attempts in the third quarter, when it outscored the Kings, 44-17.
The win was the 1,100th for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, including a stint with the Chicago Bulls and his 20 seasons in Utah.
The Jazz started quickly.
They led by seven points in the first quarter and by nine early in the second before turnovers and cold shooting allow the Kings to get back in the game and tie things at half.
John Salmons scored 12 of his 18 first-half points in the second quarter, when Utah managed only two free throws in the final 3:05 and Sacramento went on a 6-0 run heading to halftime.
The Jazz didn't waste any time taking control in the second half, however.
Okur hit a pair of jumpers and a three-pointer during an early 13-0 run. The Kings needed 4:10 to score, fell behind 94-67 at the end of the third quarter and ended up suffering their fifth straight loss.
Both teams were shorthanded for this game.
The Jazz were missing Carlos Boozer (strained quad tendon), Matt Harpring (back strain), Brevin Knight (sprained finger) and Jarron Collins (elbow).
The Kings played without leading scorer Kevin Martin (sprained ankle) and forward Kenny Thomas (sprained ankle).
