Kirilenko elevates Jazz

The first couple times the Jazz lost to the Seattle SuperSonics this season, Andrei Kirilenko was injured and out.

The last time, just this past Sunday night, his playing time was limited by doctor's orders to just 14 minutes.

Wednesday night at the Delta Center, the leash was still on. The Jazz's lone All-Star was permitted just 20 minutes this time, getting 10 at the end of the second quarter and 10 more at the end of the fourth. But he made them count, especially when his effort was needed most.

Kirilenko had four of his five blocks and five of his 12 points in Wednesday's final quarter, and that combined with a career-high 11 assists and season-high 20 points in a career-high 38 minutes from point guard Raul Lopez helped the Jazz do what they have been unable to all season long:

Beat the Sonics.

Utah won 109-100 in front of 18,821 at the Delta Center, ensuring Seattle did not sweep a season series with the Jazz for the first time since the 1982-83 season and reminding many just what Kirilenko means to coach Jerry Sloan's club.

"He's the heart and soul of the team," Seattle star Ray Allen said after a 27-point night of his own. "People feed off (Kirilenko), and he does a lot of little things to help the team win."

Down the road, beginning Friday night in Minnesota, he'll be able to do them much more often.

Kirilenko's conditioning may not be all he and Sloan want it to be after playing three games following a 26-game layoff due to a partial tear in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee, but otherwise it's all-systems go from here on out.

"I don't even feel any pain," Kirilenko said.

Unless complications arise, Sloan said the limit on minutes should be a thing of the past: "Hopefully, from now on, he'll be able to play whatever we decide to play him."

Wednesday, the 15-28 Jazz made do with the limited time they had Kirilenko.

Lopez, starting because Keith McLeod was put on the injured list earlier in the day with a strained hamstring, and shooting guard Raja Bell led the charge as the Jazz rallied from five down late in the third quarter.