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SALT LAKE CITY -- Despite a red hot first quarter and 34 points from Paul Millsap, the Jazz were outdone 121-105 by the Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
A nearly flawless first
Looking as though they were still running on the steam of their 113-106 win over the Nuggets Friday night in Denver, the Jazz opened their meeting with the Thunder by hitting their first 11 shots. The streak lasted until just 3:49 remained in the quarter and provided a comfortable 13-point lead on visiting Oklahoma City. Millsap accounted for Utah's first missed attempt as his 20-foot jump shot hit the front of the iron with less than four minutes to play in the quarter.
(We) got up 13 points, and then in that second quarter, they kind of sucked the life out of us.
–Deron Williams
"We came out with a lot of energy, and it looked like we were going to take control of the game early," Deron Williams said. "(We) got up 13 points, and then in that second quarter, they kind of sucked the life out of us. We weren't able to regain it after that."
Overall, the Jazz shot a fiery 73.7 percent in the first quarter, hitting 14 of 19 attempts. Millsap's streak-ending miss was his only shot of the quarter that missed it's mark. He ended 5-of-6 for 10 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Millsap's paces
While the majority of Utah's hands cooled down after the opening quarter, Millsap's stayed hot and continued tearing up Oklahoma City's defense throughout the game. Millsap ended with 34 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, stretched evenly through four quarters.
I (had everything going), but it all cancels out when you lose.
–Paul Millsap
"I (had everything going), but it all cancels out when you lose. It don't really mean that big a deal to me," Millsap said. "You wanna come out and win at home. That's the main thing we want to do, but we gotta keep pushing through it."
Millsap has seen the 30+ mark three times this season, including a 30-point, 16-rebound and 6-assist night against the Thunder in a 120-99 preseason win Oct. 31 in Oklahoma City. Four games later, Millsap racked up a season-high 46 points in Miami, leading the Jazz to a 116-114 overtime win.
Jan. 28, Millsap again reached 30 as the Jazz took a 108-100 win over Minnesota in Salt Lake City, ending a season-long six-game losing streak.
Utah's loss was the first of the season when Millsap reached the 30-point mark.
