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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Karl Malone doesn't care if he's watching the All-Star game from home. Right now, he's more focused on helping Utah maintain its new spot atop the Midwest Division.

Malone scored 30 points in 30 minutes, adding eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocked shots as the Jazz beat the Charlotte Hornets 118-96 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Going in, Malone was fifth among forwards in fan voting for the Western Conference All-Stars. The 36-year-old Malone trailed Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, San Antonio's Tim Duncan, Portland's Scottie Pippen and Sacramento's Chris Webber.

Malone sarcastically insisted it doesn't matter.

``I've been to enough of them,'' said Malone, an All-Star 11 times in his 14 previous seasons. ``I think it's a young guy's sport anyway, and I've just been fortunate enough to stay healthy as an old geezer to go out and play.''

As Utah begins a three-game Texas road swing tonight in Dallas, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said the most impressive part of Malone's statistical line was that he sat the entire fourth quarter.

``It's nice to have a game like this,'' Sloan said. ``We got some of the guys a chance to rest and hopefully they'll be ready to play. This is an important trip for us. We need to keep focused on what we've got to do.''

John Stockton scored 16 points while Jeff Hornacek and Bryon Russell each had 12 for the Jazz, who shot 62 percent (50-of-81). Olden Polynice had 10 rebounds as Utah enjoyed a 42-32 advantage on the boards.

After Seattle's 99-96 victory at San Antonio on Wednesday, Utah held a half-game lead over the defending NBA champion Spurs. But with 52 regular-season games remaining, Malone said things will settle.

``I think what we need to do is not worry about anything else but playing our kind of basketball,'' Malone said. ``We can take care of our own destiny. It's OK if somebody helps us, but you want to go into it and do it yourself.''

Malone practically took care of the Hornets by himself.

It was close through the first six minutes, then Malone scored 10 points over the last 5:22 of the first period. Hornacek added six during Utah's 11-2 run over the last 2:15 and the Jazz led 33-22 entering the second period.

Malone scored 14 points in the third quarter and finished the night 12-of-15 as Utah won its fourth straight and stretched its Delta Center winning streak to seven games.

It looked like it would be a big night for Derrick Coleman when he scored eight points and the Hornets led 18-12 after the first six minutes. Malone got involved defensively, and Coleman had six the rest of the way.

David Wesley had 19 points, Bobby Phills added 14 and Elden Campbell 12 for Charlotte, which has lost five in a row on the road.

``I thought our guys played hard, but it just wasn't there,'' said coach Paul Silas. ``They (Jazz) were on fire. When a team's shooting like they're shooting, they're going to blow you out.''

Notes: Hornacek's free-throw streak remains at 66 straight. For the second consecutive game, he didn't go to the line. ... The Hornets activated Eddie Jones, the NBA's steals leader and the team's top scorer but he didn't play. Since he tore an elbow ligament on Dec. 20, Charlotte is 2-5. ... After sitting the bench in seven of Utah's first 18 games, rookie Quincy Lewis has played at least 10 minutes in 12 straight. ... Coleman needs eight points for 10,000 in his career.