Jazz 112, Bobcats 102
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Al Jefferson scored 26 points and had eight rebounds, all in the first three quarters, as the Utah Jazz beat the Charlotte Bobcats 112-102 on Wednesday night.
Jefferson was 11-of-15 from the field on a night when the Jazz shot 53.7 percent (44 of 82).
Utah was in control throughout, jumping out to a 21-point lead in the first half and keeping the lead in double digits throughout the second half. The Jazz took control by exploding for 29 points in the final six minutes of the second quarter, hitting five 3-pointers and outscoring Charlotte 29-11 in that span.
It was just the second wire-to-wire victory of the season for the Jazz.
Utah (19-18) has won two straight and four of its last five.
Paul Millsap added 19 points for the Jazz, Gordon Hayward scored 14, Alec Burks scored 12, and Derrick Favors and DeMarre Carroll scored 10 each.
The Bobcats (9-25) suffered their 12th straight home loss at Time Warner Cable Arena.
Ben Gordon led the Bobcats with 20 points. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 15, and Kemba Walker, Gerald Henderson and Ramon Sessions scored 14 each.
NOTES: The Jazz were playing their 22nd road game of the season Wednesday night. That's the most road games so far for any team in the NBA. The visit to Charlotte was the start of Utah's three-game Eastern trip that continues with games at Atlanta on Friday and at Detroit on Saturday. ... The Jazz were without Marvin Williams (right knee inflammation) and Mo Williams (thumb surgery). Marvin Williams has already been ruled out for the entire road trip, and Mo Williams is expected to miss at least six more weeks. ... The Jazz also remain at a standoff with Raja Bell, who is not with the team because of a contract dispute. ... To replace Marvin Williams, the Jazz called up guard Kevin Murphy from Reno of the NBA Development League on Tuesday. Murphy, a second-round pick last summer, played in three games with the Jazz earlier this season. ... Carroll got just his fifth start of the season. ... Byron Mullens missed his seventh straight game for the Bobcats because of a left ankle sprain. Hakim Warrick, who missed Charlotte's 108-101 overtime win at Detroit on Sunday because of illness, was back but did not start. ... The Bobcats will next head out on a three-game road trip, with games at Toronto on Friday, at Indiana on Saturday and at Boston on Monday. ... Hayward was coming off a season-high, 27-point outing in the Jazz's 100-94 win over Dallas on Monday.