Miller, who died Friday from complications due to type 2 diabetes at the age of 64, was in the the thoughts of Jazz personnel and fans alike as Utah took the court against the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night.

There was a moment of silence before team introductions. Then the Jazz players, who wore a "LHM" patch on their uniforms in remembrance of Miller, went out and made his building shake as fans delighted in Utah's 102-88 win over the Hornets. After the game several players hugged Gail and point guard Deron Williams presented her with the game ball.

Many fans had signs in dedication of Miller, an owner who was beloved as much for saving the Jazz when he bought the team in 1985 as for his ability to remain a blue-collar guy even as his personal wealth and businesses grew.

Steve Anderson, a season ticket holder with seats just behind the Jazz bench who got to know Miller when they lived in the same neighborhood, called Miller a "great family man, a spiritual man."

"His legacy is he had the community of Utah in his heart," Anderson said. "Most of what he did, he did with the best interest of Salt Lake in mind. He will be missed."

Casey Cochrane, a season ticket holder from Orem who once worked for Miller in one of his car dealerships, remembered Miller for being different from other dealership owners.

"He was the one who'd always come in and talk to you," he said. "It didn't matter who you were, you could be the car wash guy and he'd come in and talk to you, it didn't matter to him. He didn't put himself above anyone else."

A viewing for Miller will be held Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the EnergySolutions Arena and funeral services will take place at the arena Feb. 28 at noon. He'll be remembered for his kindness to all, said Warren Sutton, an usher at Jazz games since 1980.

"Larry was a great man," he said. "He supported all of his employees. He always took time to say, 'Hello, how are you?' "

Miller's passion for his team was obvious in the way he'd scrutinize games from the front row and dabble in the team's workings.

Gordon Chiesa, who was a Utah assistant from 1989 to 2005 and now serves as the director of scouting for Memphis, recalled how Miller would stop him on the street outside the arena to ask about players. Or the owner would show up unannounced to practice.

"He'd always walk into practice and just sit there, watching intently," Chiesa said. "Then he'd ask us all kinds of questions, 'What do you think of this guy,' 'I like how hard you are working him, we need guys like that.' He didn't miss much. He was the passion of the Utah Jazz ."

Karl Malone did not attend the game, mostly because of a five-day visit with Miller last summer, after his heart attack in June.

"Really, we said our goodbyes then," Malone recalled in a telephone interview from his home in Louisiana.

Malone remembered the visit with fondness, saying, "I forgot how funny Larry was."

Once, after being told by a nurse that Miller was not doing something that needed to be done, Malone took charge of the situation.

"I went into his room," Malone said, "and I looked at him. I said, 'Larry, we can make this as easy as you want or as hard as you want.' He said, 'O.K.' "

Asked what he learned during his association with Miller, Malone said, "He taught me the gift of giving -- without the all media around -- just because you can."

Malone left Utah with a great admiration for how Miller was handling his serious health issues.

"How many people look the ultimate adversity in the face and deal with it like Larry Miller?" he said. "We can only wish that we leave this earth as gracefully as Larry. Right to the end, he did it on his own terms."