So far, so good for the Jazz while playing without Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer. They beat the Thunder on Friday night in their first game after learning that Kirilenko would undergo ankle surgery and be lost to them at least until the All-Star break.
The Jazz had been 1-7 this season playing without Kirilenko and either Boozer or Deron Williams, but they led by 24 early in the second half, had all five starters score in double-figures and shared the ball to the tune of 32 assists. But the Jazz will reserve judgment until they play Saturday at Portland in the second game of a back-to-back set. The Jazz have gone just 1-10 in such circumstances this season, including a 20-point loss Sunday at Denver.
In addition, the Jazz have gone just 8-15 on the road this season, losing eight of their last nine road games. They have beaten the Trail Blazers twice in Utah this season, however, and can claim the season series with a victory Saturday.
"We'll see (Saturday) how we bounce back," Williams said. "We haven't done too well with back-to-backs lately, so this is going to be a tough one against a division opponent. Last time we had the same situation against Denver, we didn't come out with any energy."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn't buy any rest for starters Williams, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap, opting to bring them back with 8:55 remaining after the Thunder had cut a 20-point lead to 15.
Williams and Okur exited for good with 2:39 to play; Millsap's night wasn't over until the final minute. Williams said afterward he didn't think having to come back in the fourth quarter would prove costly Saturday.
The Blazers are riding a three-game winning streak. Williams will find all the motivation he needs in facing Brandon Roy, who was chosen as an All-Star reserve by Western Conference coaches ahead of Williams.
JAZZ 110, THUNDER 90: The Jazz snapped a four-game losing streak and avenged a 21-point loss in Oklahoma City earlier this month. Williams finished with 24 points and 12 assists and Paul Millsap approached a triple-double (16 points, nine rebounds, seven assists). The Thunder came in with a better record in their last 14 games (8-6) than the Jazz but committed 25 turnovers in dropping to 3-19 on the road this season.
