Struggling Heat loses to Jazz

UTAH 104, MIAMI 97

Al Jefferson scored 23 points, Gordon Hayward had 22 — including a jumper with 40 seconds remaining — and the Utah Jazz held on to beat the slumping Miami Heat, 104-97, Monday night in Salt Lake City.

The Heat has lost four of its last six games and is 1-3 on a six-game trip that will end with back-to-back games against Golden State and the Lakers on Wednesday and Thursday.

The defending NBA champions were down by 21 points in the third quarter but fought back to pull to within two behind a 32-point effort by LeBron James. However, James was called for goaltending and an offensive foul on consecutive possessions late in the game, then missed a three-point attempt with Miami down six and 2:19 left.

Utah out-rebounded Miami, 4023, and had a 47-26 edge in bench scoring. Chris Bosh scored 16 points for Miami and Rashard Lewis had 13 off the bench.

at Chicago 97, Atlanta 58: Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds, Luol Deng scored 18 points and the Bulls held the Hawks to a franchise-worst 20 points in the first half. Jeff Teague’s layup with 7.9 seconds left in the game enabled Atlanta to avoid the lowest point total in franchise history. The Hawks, who scored five points in the second quarter, have lost five straight on the road and six of seven overall.

Oklahoma City 102, at Phoenix 90: Kevin Durant scored 27 of his 41 points in the second half and the Thunder became the league’s first 30-game winner this season. Russell Westbrook had 36 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City, which has won four straight, the last three on the road, and is an NBA-best 30-8.

at Washington 120, Orlando 91: Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading six players in double figures for the Wizards, who have only seven victories all season but have won three in a row.

at Boston 100, Charlotte 89: Rajon Rondo recorded his third tripledouble this season and 26th of his career, accumulating 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as the Celtics won their sixth straight game, their longest winning streak this season. The Bobcats have lost three in a row and 23 of 25.

at Dallas 113, Minnesota 98: Darren Collison led six players in double figures with 23 points and the Mavericks matched a season high with their third consecutive win.

at Sacramento 124, Cleveland 118: DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and the Kings ended a four-game skid.

Clippers 99, at Memphis 73