Clarkson on song as Jazz down Sixers; Clippers win

LOS ANGELES: Jordan Clarkson erupted for 40 points off the bench as the Utah Jazz overpowered the Philadelphia 76ers 134-123 in the NBA’S clash of the conference leaders on Monday.

Clarkson produced a dazzling display of longrange shooting, making eight of 13 atempts from beyond the arc as Utah overturned an early doubledigit deficit to score a convincing win at Salt Lake City’s Vivint Arena.

Utah talisman Donovan Mitchell finished with 24 points while Australian veteran Joe Ingles delivered 20.

Sixers star Ben Simmons saw a record-breaking 42-point display -- the highest ever tally by an Australian player in an NBA game -- end in defeat.

Simmons was in superb shooting form, making 12-of-13 free throws while supplying 12 assists. Teammate Tobias Harris had 36 points with 10 rebounds.

But the night belonged to Clarkson, whose high-scoring cameo saw the Jazz stretch their lead at the top of the Western Conference to 23-5, and extended the team’ s unbeaten streak to eight games.

Philadelphia, who lead the Eastern Conference at 18-10, got off to a fast start, with Harris’s floating jump shot puting the visitors 14 points clear at 24-10 midway through the first.

Utah gradually chipped away at the lead, however, with Ingles cuting the deficit to just seven points at the end of the first quarter.

The Australian then got Utah to within one with a three-pointer early in the second period to make it 46-45.

Utah finally moved into the lead just before halftime, turning around six points clear at the break.

Another Mitchell three-pointer put Utah 86-74 ahead in the third quarter, and they maintained a 12-point lead heading into the final period with the score at 106-94.

Clarkson brought up his 40-point tally with a three-pointer to put Utah 121-112 ahead before the hosts closed out a decisive win.

In Los Angeles, a depleted Clippers side missing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George proved too strong for the Miami Heat in a 125-118 win at the Staples Center.

Marcus Morris shouldered the scoring burden for the Clippers with 32 points, while Ivica Zubac had 22 off the bench. The Clippers improved to 21-8 to remain firmly on the heels of Utah at the top of the West. Jimmy Butler (30 points), Bam Adebayo (27) and Tyler Herro (27) led the Miami scoring.