Steve Luhm's NBA quick hits | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Feeling the Love

Minnesota traded Al Jefferson to the Jazz in 2010 to make more room for emerging star Kevin Love. But Jefferson remains a big fan of his ex-teammate: "Kevin can beat you in so many different ways. He can beat you outside. He can beat you on the block. He can beat you [with] rebounds. … You can't take plays off against him."

Wins by committee

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro has done an outstanding job but deflects credit for the Clippers' fast start. "Obviously starting off having Blake [Griffin] as a young player is a huge bonus," he said. "But it's everybody. No one person can do all the things that need to be done for a team or an organization. It takes a committee of people."

'Total disaster'

In a word, the Suns were dreadful in Friday night's 87-80 loss to the Jazz. Phoenix went 81/2 minutes without scoring in the second quarter and managed 49 points in the last three quarters — 10 in the final 2:26. "It wasn't a good game," said coach Alvin Gentry. "... Just one of those games that was a total disaster, really."

Minnesota's shocker

After a 22-point loss in Utah, Minnesota went back-to-back against Denver and shocked the Nuggets, 101-97. "There's always four or five games a year when you embarrass yourself and tonight was one of those nights," Denver coach George Karl told reporters. Said point guard Ty Lawson: "It's kind of deflating, man. … Not on the same page."

Steve Luhm