Jazz top Thunder in preseason matchup

Jazz top Thunder in preseason matchup

Published Oct. 12, 2012 11:03 p.m. ET

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah has been looking for players to hit outside shots and get the Jazz off to a fast start.

Mo Williams and Marvin Williams did just that, combining for 18 first-quarter points on 6-of-8 shooting in Friday night's 97-81 preseason victory over Oklahoma City.

"Obviously our first game is going to be a little crazy. I think we made tremendous strides from our last game offensively and defensively," Marvin Williams said of rebounding from a road loss Monday to Golden State.

Utah's first field goal came on Marvin Williams' 3-pointer, and Mo Williams made his first four shots as the Jazz led by as many as 10 in the opening quarter.

It was Mo Williams' home debut since being acquired in a multiteam trade this summer -- nine years after the Jazz drafted him in the second round in 2003.

"It wasn't odd at all," Mo Williams said of playing for the Jazz again at home. "It felt really good. It's the same people that were here when I was here."

He was referring to some of the fans, and head coach Tyrone Corbin, who was just coming on board as an assistant when Williams was leaving for Milwaukee.

Corbin was glad to have him back.

"The way he can push the ball and ... see where different guys will be and ... how we follow (his pace), I think he's continued to grow with this team," Corbin said.

Mo Williams finished with 15 points in 23 minutes to lead the Jazz.

Gordon Hayward added 13 despite an 0-for-6 start while Al Jefferson had 12 points. Reserve Enes Kanter had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Oklahoma City was without numerous key players, but hurt itself with 21 turnovers that led to 27 Utah points.

"The game wasn't a good game for us," said Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, who still has several starters out and sat point guard Russell Westbrook so he could take a look at others. "There was no doubt we turned the ball over too many times, we took too many bad shots."

He was pleased, though, with the effort of 6-11 forward Perry Jones, who played 30 minutes and led Oklahoma City with 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting.

"He is a versatile guy," Brooks said. "He can score inside, he can score outside and he has a good feel for the game, but with that being said, he still has a learning curve that will take place."

Forward Kevin Durant played only 19 minutes and finished with nine points, three assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot.

Marvin Williams, acquired in a trade with Atlanta, had the early matchup against Durant.

"It's a tough assignment," said forward Derrick Favors, who started for Utah in place of Paul Millsap. "You can't stop (Durant) from scoring but you can make it tough. He did that."

The game was a chance for both teams to look at young players. Fifteen Jazz players had played by halftime.

The Jazz got off to a fast start behind two of their new additions, with Mo Williams scoring 10 first-quarter points and Marvin Williams adding eight as Utah took command early.

The Jazz were without Millsap and backup point guard Jamaal Tinsley, both excused for personal reasons.

The Thunder did not play Sixth Man Award winner James Harden because of a groin injury, and remain without Kendrick Perkins (wrist surgery) and Thabo Sefolosha (bruised quad).

Brooks had specific goals early, and one of them was on the boards. He was pleased that his team limited the Jazz to four offensive rebounds in the first half.

But he was hoping to see some solid play from his backup point guards.

Reggie Jackson got the start and finished with 10 points, but made just 3 of 10 shots and had seven turnovers.

"I'm disappointed with my performance," Jackson said. "I was trying to make too many home-run plays instead of just making plays."

Eric Maynor played 12 minutes and had four points on 2 of 8 shooting.

Serge Ibaka, in his first game since the Olympics, finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for Oklahoma City. He missed the preseason opener because of a bruised quad.

Cole Aldrich added 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Thunder but had several of his own shots swatted by Favors.

Favors finished with three blocks but didn't get the call on a few others, including a hustle play when Jackson appeared headed for a fast-break layup after a Jazz turnover.

He said he felt "cheated" out of a few blocks, but wasn't worried about shooting 0 of 5 and finishing with 1 point.

"I'm a defensive player; the shots will fall," Favors said.

NOTES: Jazz rookie Kevin Murphy made his preseason debut with 3:11 left in the second quarter and finished with two points. ... Asked about Jazz 6-11 backup center Kanter dropping 51 pounds to 242 this offseason, Thunder coach Scott Brooks quipped, "He's a small forward now." ... Oklahoma City dropped to 0-2 in preseason after going undefeated during the NBA's abbreviated 2011 preseason schedule. ... The Thunder made just 3 of 15 shots from 3-point range and 29 of 78 overall.

ADVERTISEMENT
share