Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson combined for 38 points, leading the Jazz to a 107-94 victory against the New Jersey Nets on Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena.
Deron Williams scored 16 points on just 3-of-15 shooting during his official NBA return to Salt Lake City.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS
The First: Jazz 30, Nets 21
Utah hits 10 of its first 14 shots and opens up a 23-14 lead. Deron Williams dishes out four assists but goes 1 of 4 from the field and is booed every time he touches the ball.
The Second: Jazz 57, Nets 40
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Jordan Farmar pull New Jersey within 34-28. But the Jazz exploit the Nets inside, and Utah's lead swells to 44-30 after an Al Jefferson layup.
The Third: Jazz 87, Nets 67
Williams continues to struggle, hitting just 3 of his first 15 shots. The Nets gain a little ground, but a 3 by Gordon Hayward makes it 70-55 Jazz with 5:47 left in the period.
The Fourth: Jazz 107, Nets 94
Utah rests its starters late. Rookies Alec Burks, Enes Kanter and little-used Jeremy Evans step up. The Nets never threaten and Williams ends the game on the bench.
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