NBA | Jazz takes Northwest Division

NEW ORLEANS — Mehmet Okur kept up his recent strong play, even during a defensive struggle in which the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets held each other to season lows in scoring.

Okur had 22 points and 17 rebounds to help Utah clinch its second consecutive Northwest Division championship and snap the Hornets' 11-game home winning streak, 77-66 on Tuesday night.

"I feel really good right now," said Okur, who has led Utah in scoring in its last three victories during what is a four-game winning streak. "I try to stay active on the boards, grab every rebound out there, start the game with a couple easy baskets, then I step back. I've really got my confidence."

Deron Williams had 16 assists and outplayed Chris Paul as the Jazz took a 20-point lead early in the fourth quarter and cruised from there. Williams then smiled in the locker room when he was reminded that Carmelo Anthony had told him during the summer that Denver was going to win their division.

"Carmelo, I'm sorry buddy," Williams said.

Even with the division crown, the Jazz still had only the fifth-best record in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Houston, meaning the Jazz has not yet sealed up home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

No one in the Jazz locker room complained, however.

"That's on us. If we keep playing the way we are, we could end up having the home court," Williams said.

Paul had a rare off night, finishing with nine assists and four points on 2-of-11 shooting.

"It was the first time in a long time that I can remember that we just couldn't make shots on a consistent basis," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "I don't remember us being that cold for an entire game. Again, you have to give [Utah] credit on defense, but we just couldn't knock down the shots."

Notes

• Cleveland Cavaliers F LeBron James didn't practice for the second consecutive day in order to rest his troublesome back. James, who has been dealing with back spasms for a few weeks, received treatment while his teammates prepared for today's game against the New Jersey Nets. Cavs coach Mike Brown said it's possible James could sit out.

• Charlotte Bobcats F Gerald Wallace is leaning toward sitting out the last week of the season because of a groin injury.

• Sacramento Kings C Brad Miller will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left leg and a bone chip in his right elbow.

• Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard needed six stitches after getting cut on the mouth in a collision at practice. Coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't expect Howard to miss any games.

• Today's WNBA draft (ESPN2, 10 a.m.) is likely to see Tennessee's Candace Parker go first to the Los Angeles Sparks, while Louisana State's Sylvia Fowles likely will follow and go to the Chicago Sky. Stanford's Candice Wiggins could be selected third and be off to the Minnesota Lynx. The Storm's first pick is 22nd, which is the eighth pick of the second round.

In othe WNBA news, All-Star Becky Hammon will play for Russia at the Beijing Olympics. Hammon, a 31-year-old point guard for San Antonio, said she signed with the Russian national team Monday, about two weeks after getting her Russian passport.