So too, much more importantly, does the three-game overall streak for coach Jerry Sloan's 22-15 club -- the Jazz's first run with more than two consecutive victories since they started the season 5-0.

What did come to a close, though, was Millsap's personal streak -- and the NBA's longest active streak -- of double-doubles, one that started back on Nov. 24 against Chicago.

With just nine points and seven rebounds on a night ex-Pistons big man Mehmet Okur scored a game-high 22 and swingman Ronnie Brewer added another 16 points, the count comes to a close at 19.

And that's okay by Millsap, who played just 22 minutes Saturday because he bumped knees -- his right one, not the one that caused him to recently miss three games because of a sprained ligament -- in the opening half with teammate Kyle Korver.

Millsap -- the Jazz's chief replacement starter at power forward for All-Star Carlos Boozer, who on Friday underwent arthroscopic knee surgery -- deemed its demise "not too important."

"I just go out there and play Basketball," Millsap said, "and the stats come along with it.

"But the main thing: We got the win, and continued that streak," he added. "That's the big picture."

It is, thanks to a lot little ones that proved quite favorable for Utah.

Like Okur scoring 15 of his 22 on 6-of-6 shooting in the first quarter alone, and winding up 8-for-9 from the field.

Like Brewer going on a personal 6-0 run to end the first half -- a jumper, two free throws and a dunk -- then opening the second with two more points to put the Jazz up 59-47.

Like combo guard Ronnie Price, who was starting because small forward C.J. Miles missed his first game this season with an ankle sprain, helping to hold Pistons star guard Allen Iverson to just 11 points and 4-of-13 field shooting.

All that and more helped the Jazz cruise quite comfortably in the fourth quarter, though only after Detroit trimmed Utah's 10-point halftime advantage to as few as six late in the third.

It was only after Tayshaun Prince hit a 3-pointer to make it 70-64, that Utah put way the Pistons, who were without injured starter Rip Hamilton because of a groin strain.

A 9-0 to end the third did the trick, as the Jazz closed the quarter with Millsap's Brewer-fed dunk, a Brewer jumper, an Andrei Kirilenko free throw, a basket inside from rookie Kosta Koufos delivered by Brewer, and a long Price jumper facilitated by Kirilenko's nifty cross-court pass.

Utah led by 13 or more, and as many as 25, the rest of the way.

"Our guys did a terrific job passing the Basketball and trying to execute our offense," said Sloan, whose team had a whopping 29 assists on its 38 field goals.

"We had a difficult time trying to contain them and keep them from getting shots in the first half," he added, "(but) we did a better job in the second half trying to help each other and trying to make a few stops."

That in turned helped the Jazz overcome not only an off night from point guard Deron Williams -- still under the weather with a bad cold, he made just 3-of-12 from the field and scored only seven points -- but also limited contribution from the usually consistent Millsap.

Millsap called his injury, from which he returned wearing a band following a short trip to the locker room, "minor."

That on a night the major thing for the Jazz, who close a four-game homestand Monday vs. Indiana, was putting together three straight for the first time since early November.

"I like the way we're playing," Kirilenko said.

"We've got a lot of confidence right now," Millsap added. "A lot of momentum."

Even if the personal streak lost its. And so be it that it did, Millsap suggested.

"Every good thing," he said, "comes to an end." E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com