Ronnie Brewer's 23 points helped Jazz take a 41-19 lead after the first quarter
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David West scored 23 points with 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half.
The Hornets got the deficit down to single digits briefly in the third period, but the Jazz reasserted themselves in the fourth.
The Hornets could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory, but lost their second straight game.
In fact, the Hornets currently lie sixth in the Western Conference - half a game in front of the Jazz.
But because Phoenix lost on Sunday, the Jazz can finish no worse than tied for the eighth and last place, and they would win any tiebreaker so their spot is secure.
"We're happy to be in the playoffs, but we're not happy to be an eight seed," Williams said.
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