Stockton Has 21 Assists Again in 120-103 Win Over Clippers

Karl Malone scored 32 points Saturday night, and John Stockton had 21 assists for the second straight night in leading the Utah Jazz to a 120-103 victory over the Clippers.

Stockton was brilliant midway through the second quarter when the Jazz used a 17-9 run for a 59-52 lead. The 6-foot 1-inch guard hit three baskets, including a three-point shot, and added assists on Utah’s five other field goals.

Thurl Bailey added 25 points off the bench. Darrell Griffith had 18 and Stockton 16 for the Jazz, who beat the Clippers, 98-88, in Los Angeles Friday night.

The Clippers (11-39) have lost 18 straight road games.

Mike Woodson scored 35 points for Los Angeles but was blanked in the final period. Michael Cage added 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Benoit Benjamin had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

The Jazz trailed, 38-32, after one period, but led 63-59 at halftime and 92-82 after three periods. Leading 105-94 midway through the final period, Utah put the game away with a 12-0 run.

“We got a lot of help from our bench tonight,” said Frank Layden, Jazz coach. “I thought everybody played well. We had some bursts with our second unit in there and that helped us.”

Said Cage: “We had a 10-point lead, but the main thing hurting us this year is the killer instinct. We can’t put them away.”

Layden was particularly impressed with Woodson’s play.

“Woodson had a terrific game tonight,” Layden said. “I don’t think anybody could have stopped him. At halftime, I told the players to just keep playing the way they were.

“We tried to get a couple of people on Woodson,” he added. “I didn’t want one player to beat us.”

Woodson preferred not to talk about himself. Instead, he discussed Stockton and his 21 assists.