Last time out, rookie Kirk Snyder caught much flak.

Wednesday night, in a 109-98 Jazz loss to Denver, it was fellow shooting guard Gordan Giricek on the receiving end of Jerry Sloan's wrath.

With Snyder being disciplined and Raja Bell injured, Giricek started at the two spot. He lasted less than five minutes, however, before being replaced by Howard Eisley and engaging with Sloan in a brief sideline exchange of words.

"I think he's frustrated and confused as to what we want out of him," Sloan said of Giricek, who also was a bit demonstrative about not having foul calls whistled in his favor.

"But he's been here long enough," the Jazz coach added, "to know that he's got some things to do — but it's tough to play if you go out just focussed on yourself."

Sloan sat Giricek for the rest of the first half, and replaced him in Utah's opening lineup for the second half.

Giricek did return later in the third quarter, however, and wound up with five more points on top of the six he had scored before the early opening-quarter exit.

"He did a better job," Sloan said, "of trying to do things and help other people in the second part of the ball game."

As Sloan promised, Snyder did not play — punishment for taunting the Houston coaching staff during the third quarter of Monday's loss to the Rockets.

Snyder was not docked any pay, so the discipline was not technically considered a suspension.

He did dress for the game, since forcing him to watch in street clothes without a formal suspension would be a violation of rules in the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players' union.

Meanwhile, Bell sat out due to a bruised right shin apparently sustained in last week's win over the Lakers.

BIG BUCKS: According to a USA Today report, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller's net worth ranks No. 15 among NBA owners at $480 million.

Portland's Paul Allen leads the list at $20 billion, while Houston's Leslie Alexander and San Antonio's Peter Holt trail the pack at $80 million.

USA Today also reported that Sloan, making $5.5 million in the first year of a two-year contract, ranks second only to Sacramento's Rick Adelman ($6.9 million this season) in coach's pay.

Low end of the coach's scale is $1 million per season, with several making that amount.

MISC.: Former Jazz swingman Bryon Russell missed his only shot in one scoreless minute for the Nuggets . . . With Kenyon Martin (bruised chest) out, Nene started at power forward for Denver . . . Wednesday's national anthem was performed by KUTV Ch. 2 sports reporter/producer Chris Holden . . . Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor spent Wednesday night at Notre Dame, scouting the McDonald's All American High School All-Star Game . . . Jazz players will appear at 13 area schools this afternoon to celebrate "Reading Day" with local students.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com