All that Jazz: Cavaliers fall, give Sloan 1,210

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

CJ Miles scored 22 points, Paul Millsap and Raja Bell added 19 apiece and the Utah Jazz beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-90 on Monday night, moving coach Jerry Sloan into a tie with Pat Riley for the third-most wins in NBA history.

Deron Williams had 17 points and 10 assists as the Jazz improved to 11-1 against the Eastern Conference.

Sloan, Utah’s coach since 1988, has matched Riley with 1,210 victories. Up next is Lenny Wilkens (1,332) and Don Nelson (1,335). During Sloan’s long run, which began before Jazz rookie Gordon Hayward was born, there have been 234 coaching changes across the league.

Daniel Gibson scored a career-high 29 for the Cavaliers, who have lost 11 of 12.

Sloan’s tough-nosed mentality made him a feared player, and he used that same intensity and determination to become one of the game’s most successful coaches. He’s the only coach to win 1,000 games with one team, and is one of just three coaches — Riley and Phil Jackson are the others — to have more than 15 consecutive winning seasons.

He’s still looking for his first championship ring, and he’s got another team ready to make a run at one.

The night began ominously for the Jazz. Forward Mehmet Okur sprained his right ankle during pregame warmups and had to sit. Okur had only just returned after missing Utah’s first 26 games following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.

The Jazz didn’t miss him.

Williams smoothly ran Utah’s offense the way he always does. Millsap and Al Jefferson controlled the boards underneath and Bell made five 3-pointers as the Jazz had little trouble with an overmatched Cleveland team.

Leading by 12 after three, the Jazz scored two quick baskets to open the fourth and before long their lead was up to 20.

Jefferson added 13 rebounds, including four on the offensive end for the Jazz, who seemed to play volleyball around the rim on several possessions.

Mo Williams added 16 points and 10 assists for the Cavs, who have played with better energy of late but don’t have the talent to stay with a team of Utah’s caliber.