Jazz rout Real Madrid

MADRID – Paul Millsap continued to make his case for a regular season starting spot as his game-high 20 points led the Utah Jazz to a 109-87 rout of Spanish club Real Madrid on Thursday in the finale of the NBA’s preseason tour of Europe.

Point guard Deron Williams added 16 at the Palacio de los Deportes stadium as the Jazz rebounded from Tuesday’s one-point loss to the Chicago Bulls in London.

The victory put the NBA back on even-footing in Spain after having lost two of its last three matches in the country.

“We’re athletic, our system definitely helps, (we’re) tough to guard. We just had more talent,” Williams said, summarizing the match.

Both Millsap and Carlos Boozer are battling to start the season in the power forward’s role with four preseason games to go.

Millsap followed up an 18-point effort against the Bulls by combining with Alexander Johnson for 22 points during a second quarter run when the Jazz outscored the hosts 33-16 to breakout.

“That’s what I’m trying to do, to push myself to do better this whole year, be more assertive on the offensive end and play my role on the defensive ending,” Millsap said. “I was about business on this trip.”

With Madrid missing pivot men Felipe Reyes and Thomas Van den Spiegel, Millsap dominated in the paint to key an 8-2 run to start the period before Johnson hit back-to-back jumpers to help Utah out to its first double-digit advantage.      (AP)