"The Utah Jazz started Wednesday's game shorthanded, and they ended it even more outmanned.

"We were really hamstrung there for a little bit," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan admitted.

They were also — and this shouldn't come as a big shocker — behind the Los Angeles Clippers by a dozen points at one time, too.

But despite the challenges — or maybe thanks to the obstacles — the Jazz ended up on the winning side of the Staples Center scoreboard after gutting out a 103-95 victory over the Clippers.

"We were a little shorthanded," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "But we have capable guys on this team."

They needed them on this night, when they also had a few incapable players due to injuries and an illness.

The capable guys included a couple of players who had their best outings in Jazz uniforms, namely fill-in starter Gordon Hayward and center Al Jefferson.

Recovering-but-injured-again Mehmet Okur also chipped in his strongest showing yet this season before bowing out with a tweaked back.

Hayward started in place of Andrei Kirilenko (lower back strain), and had his best outing as a professional player. The rookie finished with career-highs in scoring (17 points), field goals (6-for-12), 3-pointers (3-for-5), rebounds (six) and minutes played (44)."