Jazz Break Home Skid, Beat Magic 113-94

[December 22, 2007]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Paul Millsap scored a career-high 28 points to help the Utah Jazz end a seven-game road losing streak with a 113-94 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

The Magic, who looked like one of the NBA's best teams after going 13-4 in November, have lost six of their last eight. They haven't won a home game since Nov. 24. They left the court to a chorus of boos from the few fans who stayed to the end.

The Jazz hadn't won road game since Nov. 28, but made this one look easy.

Utah's bench, including Millsap, outscored Orlando's 50-20, and Carlos Boozer had 24 points and nine rebounds. Deron Williams had 17 points and seven assists and Matt Harpring and C.J. Miles each added 10.

Hedo Turkoglu scored a season-high 27 for Orlando and Dwight Howard had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Rashard Lewis scored seven in the first quarter, but ended up with just 12. He shot 2-for-7 from 3-point range.

The Magic shot well early, taking an eight-point lead. But the Jazz closed the first quarter with a 13-4 run to take a 28-27 lead.

The game stayed close until the third quarter, when Millsap took over. He scored all Utah's points in an 11-2 run over 4:03. It put the Jazz up 77-67, and Orlando got no closer in the fourth quarter.

Harpring was back in the lineup after missing three straight with stomach trouble, but the Jazz were still missing Mehmet Okur, out since Dec. 11 with a strained left trapezius.

Jazz guard Gordan Giricek was not with the team, two nights after coach Jerry Sloan banished him to the locker room following a tense exchange on the bench. Giricek flew back to Utah on Thursday and the Jazz have said nothing further about his status.

Orlando is now 4-6 in December, while Utah is 3-8. The Jazz had lost eight of their last nine.

Notes:@ Orlando turned the ball over 20 times for 30 Utah points, while the Jazz had 13 turnovers for 12 points. ... Magic G Carlos Arroyo returned after missing five games (left foot). He didn't play until the fourth quarter, when the Magic were down by double digits.

[Associated Press; By TRAVIS REED]

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.