Williams’ 15 lift Jazz over Thunder 97-81

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(AP) Mo Williams hit his first four shots and finished with 15 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 97-81 victory over Oklahoma City in a preseason game Friday night.

Gordon Hayward added 13 despite an 0-for-6 start while Al Jefferson had 12 points. Reserve Enes Kanter had 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Reserve Perry Jones had 14 points for Oklahoma City, which was without key players because of injury and did not play point guard Russell Westbrook.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant played 19 minutes and finished with nine points, three assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot.

The game was a chance for both teams to look at young players. Fifteen Jazz players had played by halftime.

The Jazz got off to a fast start behind two of their new additions, with Mo Williams scoring 10 first-quarter points and Marvin Williams adding eight as Utah took command early.

The Jazz were without forward Paul Millsap and backup point guard Jamaal Tinsley, both excused for personal reasons.

The Thunder did not play Sixth Man Award winner James Harden because of a groin injury, and remain without Kendrick Perkins (wrist surgery) and Thabo Sefolosha (bruised quad). Coach Scott Brooks also held out Russell Westbrook so he could look at other young players.

Reggie Jackson started at point for the Thunder, and finished with 10 points, but made just 3 of 10 shots and had seven turnovers.

Eric Maynor had four points on 2 of 8 shooting.

The Jazz led 31-23 after one quarter and by as many as 11 in the second before Jones and Durant brought the Thunder back, Jones’ 3-pointer pulling Oklahoma City within 44-42 to cap a 7-0 run. By then Utah had its second and third units in, but still took a 50-44 lead into the break when reserve guard Chris Quinn hit a shot at the buzzer.

The Jazz took a 76-63 lead into the fourth and were never threatened.

Serge Ibaka, in his first game since the Olympics, finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for Oklahoma City. He missed the preseason opener because of a bruised quad.

Cole Aldrich added 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Thunder but had several of his own shots swatted by Derrick Favors, who started in place of Millsap at power forward.

Favors finished with three blocks but didn’t get the call on a few others, including a hustle play when Jackson appeared headed for a fast-break layup after a Jazz turnover.

Favors shot 0 of 5, and finished with one point..

Forward Marvin Williams held his own playing against Durant, finishing with two steals and four rebounds.

NOTES: Jazz rookie Kevin Murphy made his preseason debut with 3:11 left in the second quarter and finished with two points. ... Asked about Jazz 6-11 backup center Kanter dropping 51 pounds to 242 this offseason, Thunder coach Scott Brooks quipped, “He’s a small forward now.” ...