Clippers crush Jazz

Corey Maggette scored 19 points with five boards and six assists for Los Angeles, which has won three in a row and four of its last five. Cuttino Mobley added 15 points, while Chris Kaman donated 10 and pulled down 14 rebounds in the victory.

"It’s the right time to be gelling," Mobley said. "When we move the ball around, it’s a pretty game. We’re trusting each other and making plays."

The Clippers, who never trailed in the contest, finished 50.6 percent shooting from the field and hold a slim half-game lead over the Golden State Warriors for the final playoff spot in the West.

Carlos Boozer led Utah with 13 points with nine rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko chipped in 12 points in defeat. The Northwest Division leading Jazz have dropped five of six since winning 14 of 16.

After Boozer’s dunk brought Utah within two late in the first quarter, Los Angeles closed out the frame on an 8-0 run — ended with Mobley’s finger roll — for a 24-16 edge.

The Clippers built up a double-digit advantage in the second, first on Daniel Ewing’s jumper for an 11-point cushion with 7:43 remaining, and then extended it to 17 when Kaman drained a layup just over five minutes later.

Los Angeles went into the locker room with a 55-38 lead.

Nothing changed in the second half as the Clippers led by as many as 35, while Jazz coach Jerry Sloan benched all of his starters for most of the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Tim Thomas, who returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s win at Milwaukee due to a bruised left elbow, had nine points and five assists for Los Angeles...Paul Millsap contributed nine points, seven boards and five steals for Utah...The Clippers outrebounded the Jazz, 45-34...Attendance was 19,389.