Utah Jazz: Kirilenko shines in rare start vs. Pacers

Published: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 12:44 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
It's beginning to look like the starting power forward for the Utah Jazz will put up about 20 points and 10-plus rebounds per game like clockwork, regardless of who is filling that roll.

Monday night it was Andrei Kirilenko's turn.

Despite having little time to prepare for his starting assignment, Kirilenko scored 23 points with 12 rebounds during Utah's 120-113 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena.

Kirilenko was filling in for the late-scratch Paul Millsap, who was out with a bruised right knee. Millsap, who recently had his streak of double-doubles broken at 19 games, is averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds as a starter in place of injured All-Star Carlos Boozer. Boozer, meanwhile, averaged 20.5 points and 11.7 boards before getting hurt.

But the Jazz were down to their third option at power forward, and Kirilenko, who had played more small forward during his NBA career, was up to the challenge on Monday.

And Kirilenko showed he could be a huge factor in the game even without success on outside jumpers. Despite being wide open for numerous looks through the first three-plus quarters, Kirilenko was only 3-for-15 from the field.

Story continues below
"I couldn't make a shot from the beginning, kind of like five or six in a row, even though that shot I was practicing with Jeff (Hornacek) a lot," said Kirilenko. "Sometimes it doesn't want to go in."

Yet Kirilenko came up huge offensively down the stretch in the fourth quarter to help the Jazz stave off a major rally by the Pacers. He scored 11 points in the final period, making his final three shots from the field. His put-back bucket with 2:26 to play to gave the Jazz a 111-106 lead and his rebound dunk with 56 ticks on the clock pretty much sealed the victory by giving the Jazz a 118-111 advantage.

"I was open at the elbow every time," said Kirilenko. "I could have taken every shot. But when you see you couldn't make it — sometimes that happens — you have to change. I was trying to drive the basketball and get under the basket."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan liked the overall play of Kirilenko, who had three assists, three steals and three blocked shots for the game to go with his double-double in points and boards.

"He's open a lot out there, and he got kind of casual taking the shots," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "But other than that, I thought he played extremely well. He got some rebounds and got some big plays to help us finish by cutting to the basket."


E-mail: lojo@desnews.com

Recent comments

I like the guy that knocks on the spelling of pre-madonna and then...

Anonymous | Jan. 14, 2009 at 2:05 p.m.

Didn't see the other comment untill after I posted...

But to...

magnus | Jan. 13, 2009 at 8:39 p.m.

Hey did you even watch the 4th quarter,moron? without AK and D-will...

Re: Ross | Jan. 13, 2009 at 7:28 p.m.

Image

Utah's Andrei Kirilenko got a start and had 23 points, 12 rebounds and this dunk.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Obama has said he will reinstate the ban on assault weapons. Clinton did....

Gun laws becoming more loose

There's a Napolian complext that goes along with gun mania. Poeple that get...

Unga might enter NFL draft

We'll break down some scores for all of you. I'll place totals plus number...

Cesar!!!!!!!! You are Real!!

DREAMING! Unless we want no police force, fire fighters, or teachers in...

Good its about time people realize gun laws NEED to GO away.

Snow hampers missing mom search

Why aren't Josh Powell's Parents coming to the aid of their son if he is...

T-Mobile is an odd choice for a mostly rural state. I use it and it is great...

I wish we could be there but living here in CA it would difficult. I wish...

He's the lone voice of reason on the Holladay city council. Holladay's mad...

Advertisements