To make the playoff push they are, the Jazz knew they would need above-and-beyond efforts from a few unexpected sources.

Carlos Arroyo has offered some, even winning last Saturday's game against Denver with a last-second shot. Then again, that's what you expect from your starting point guard.

Raja Bell has offered some, including the career-high 26 points he scored while very nearly rallying the Jazz over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Then again, Bell's shown up virtually every game this season.

But Mikki Moore making a difference? Not exactly expected, especially considering his meandering path of late.

Yet the 7-footer has been quite the difference-maker in a few recent games — and that's just what the Jazz must have much-Moore of their last eight regular-season games, including tonight's against New Orleans.

"He's really contributing a lot," teammate Bell said of Moore, whose minutes are on the rise as a result. "Even games when we've come up short, he's been one of the bright spots."

Seven games ago in Toronto, Moore did not play. Coach's decision. Five minutes, four minutes, four more minutes in the three games after that. Coach's call as well.

Then the Jazz found themselves down 22 in last Wednesday's third quarter at Seattle.

Moore would play eight minutes in the fourth, scoring eight of his then season-high 10 points on 4-of-5 field shooting in the quarter as a most-improbable comeback try came up just short. That earned Moore 21 minutes three nights later against Denver, and he responded with a new season-high 11 points.

But it was not just his scoring that opened eyes last Saturday. Rather, it was the help-defense Moore provided as Nuggets point Andre Miller, the ex-University of Utah star, struggled to 1-of-15 shooting.

"Against Denver," Jazz assistant coach Gordie Chiesa said, "Mikki was the guy, along with Greg Ostertag, to rotate naturally and not give Miller a true look to the basket."

Decent defense. Hustle. Energy.

That's what the Jazz are getting from 28-year-old Moore, who has skipped, scooted and sputtered since the Detroit Pistons waived him in 2002.

A couple of failed NBA training camps. Short stints with Boston, Atlanta and New Jersey. Stretches with Roanoke of the NBDL.

Getting someone to believe in him hasn't been easy for Moore, who admits an aura of negativity weighed him down as finished last season with the headed-nowhere Hawks.

"Basically," he said, "I just got called up (to Atlanta) to be a practice dummy.

"You can say you don't let that stuff get you down," Moore added, "but sometimes it's gonna take a toll on you."