Utah Gets Off to Fast Start and Routs Clippers

Fred Roberts sparked a 19-point Utah run early in the game, and the Clippers never recovered as the Jazz rolled to a 130-90 victory Saturday night.

Roberts scored 9 of his 21 points in the final three minutes of the first period, which ended with the Jazz on top, 37-21.

Late in the second quarter, the Clippers’ Norm Nixon hit a jumper to bring his team within 11 points, 57-46, but that was the closest Los Angeles could get the rest of the night.

Utah’s Adrian Dantley led all scorers with 24 points, while playing less than half the game. Thurl Bailey added 17 for the Jazz, now 22-24 in the NBA’s Midwest Division.

Darnell Valentine topped the Clippers with 17, while Junior Bridgeman added 16 and Rory White had 14 for Los Angeles, now 17-29 in the Pacific Division.

Utah led, 69-46, at halftime. The situation went from bad to worse for the Clippers in the third period as the Jazz increased their lead to 100-68 going into the final 12 minutes.

Both coaches used reserves liberally during the final quarter.