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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Forget Utah's five-game winning streak and victories in 10 of 12 games since the All-Star break. Coach Jerry Sloan sees trouble ahead if the defense doesn't improve.

Karl Malone scored 30 points and John Stockton tied a season-high with 18 assists as the Jazz won their fifth straight, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-95 on Tuesday night.

Sloan didn't care about Utah's 60 percent shooting (48-of-80). He was more concerned about Cleveland's effective transition game and the way the Cavaliers rallied from a 15-point first-quarter deficit.

``That doesn't indicate that you're going to compete against the teams that are really going to come in and get the quick shots inside early,'' Sloan said.

But each time the Jazz needed to score, they did.

Malone had Utah's first six points of the third quarter. He finished with 10 during the period and the Jazz used a 14-1 run over a span of 3:42 to extend a 62-55 halftime lead.

Jeff Hornacek scored 18, Bryon Russell had 15 points and 10 rebounds and center Olden Polynice added 10 points. Plenty of baskets, but Hornacek agreed there was little emphasis on defense.

``When you're scoring so easy, sometimes it makes it easy to get caught up in thinking 'They'll take a shot. We don't really need to challenge it because we're going to score at the other end,''' Hornacek said.

Sloan said that attitude won't help in the long run.

``When you get to the playoffs and you think you're going to change your game around and go play real tough defense, it's too late,'' Sloan said.

Stockton, the NBA's career assists leader, was at his vintage best against Andre Miller, now a Cleveland rookie. In recent years, the two played pickup games during Miller's career at the University of Utah.

``He was just one of the gang,'' Stockton said. ``It certainly wasn't a test market for him or any evaluation period. It was good to get to know him. I'd seen him play while he was at Utah.''

Miller led the Cavaliers with 15 points and eight assists but was ineffective in the second half. After missing a layup late in the third quarter, frustration was evident on his face.

``I was just trying to be aggressive and get everybody involved,'' Miller said. ``I was trying to pass to the guys on the team who are the scorers.''

Shawn Kemp and Andrew Declercq scored 14 points each for Cleveland, while Danny Ferry had 11 and Lamond Murray 10.

Cleveland pulled within 66-63 on a jumper by Murray with 8:02 remaining in the third, but Malone scored six points and Stockton handed out assists on four straight possessions during Utah's decisive surge.

``What can you say,'' said Cleveland coach Randy Wittman. ``He's John Stockton. He's who he is: a Hall of Fame player. He orchestrates everything for them in the halfcourt.''

Malone has been on a roll lately. He was selected the NBA's player of the week Monday after averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists as the Jazz won four games last week, including three on the road.

Notes: The Cavaliers had won three straight on their four-game road trip, and fell to 7-24 away from home this season. ... Stockton had six assists in the first quarter. ... Both teams shot well in the first half. The Cavaliers hit 58.3 percent (21-of-36) while Utah made 56.8 percent (25-of-44). ... Donny Marshall, signed Monday by Cleveland to a 10-day contract, scored two points in seven minutes. ... Utah's Howard Eisley, who shot 9-of-29 in his last five games, hit 4-of-6 for eight points.