Utah 100, Phoenix 88

JAZZ 100, SUNS 88: Paul Millsap had 26 points and 15 rebounds to help host Utah clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Al Jefferson had 18 points and 16 rebounds and Devin Harris scored 14 points as the Jazz (35-30) won their fourth consecutive game and eliminated ninth-place Phoenix from contention.

Jared Dudley and Michael Redd scored 15 points apiece and Steve Nash had 14 points and 11 assists for the Suns (33-32), who had won seven straight over Utah.

Phoenix trailed by as many as 10 in the third quarter and took its first lead of the second half at 76-74 on Redd’s basket with 10:14 left in the game. Utah responded with an 11-2 spurt to take a seven-point lead on Millsap’s three-point play.

Jefferson scored eight consecutive points later in the quarter to give Utah a 93-80 edge with 2:16 remaining.

The Suns went more than five minutes without a field goal until Dudley ended the drought with 2:03 to play.

Derrick Favors added 13 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the Jazz.

Shannon Brown and Hakim Warrick added 12 points apiece for the Suns.

Utah led 49-42 at halftime despite shooting only 40.8 percent. However, Phoenix shot 39.5 percent.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Phoenix hit only 15 of 23 free throws. … Jefferson notched his fourth consecutive double-double. … Suns forward Channing Frye missed the game with a shoulder injury. … Utah swingman Josh Howard scored four points in six minutes, his first action after missing 19 games because of knee surgery.

• Utah will play their next game at home against Portland. The Jazz have a W/L % of .514 after a win and .567 after a loss.
• Phoenix will play their next game at home against San Antonio. The Suns have a W/L % of .455 after a win and .562 after a loss.