Clippers Hit a Sour Note This Time Against Jazz

The Clippers thought the Jazz might be seeking a little payback after losing to them over the weekend and they were right.

Jeff Hornacek and Karl Malone scored 26 points apiece in a 108-85 victory that the Jazz hopes will help end its pre-playoff doldrums.

The victory before 19,535 also kept Utah, which won for only the third time in 10 games, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers in the race for the third playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz has two games left, and the Lakers have three.

“We knew it was going to be a revenge game for them because we beat them at home, and they’re playing for the playoffs,” said Rodney Rogers, who led the Clippers with 17 points.

“They were looking to get out of a rut and we acted like Oral Roberts--we healed them,” Clipper Coach Bill Fitch said.

Loy Vaught had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who dropped their fifth consecutive road game.

The Clippers scored nine consecutive points to pull to 71-60 with six minutes left in the third period, but the Jazz outscored them, 12-7, the rest of the period and built a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Hornacek scored 20 points in the first half, including four three-point baskets.

“All of a sudden, we played a lot better tonight,” Hornacek said. “Maybe now, we’ve snapped out of it and can continue to play well. Maybe now it has clicked.”

Hornacek was 10 for 15 and Malone was 10 for 13 for the Jazz, who shot 50% from the field. Utah shot only 39% in a loss to the Clippers on Saturday.

“Hornacek hit some tough shots and they got a big lead and were comfortable with it,” Rogers said. “We made a few runs at them, but they got their fast break going and we made too many silly fouls.”

Clipper Notes

Clipper forward Lamond Murray sat out the game because of flu. . . . The Clippers are the most-improved team in the Western Conference, with a 29-51 record this year, after a 17-65 mark last season. . . . In Utah’s previous two games, both losses, the Jazz were six for 21 on three-point attempts. . . . In the first half of Tuesday’s game, Utah was four for eight, with Hornacek four for five.