Back to .500: Boozer returns, Jazz defeat Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS — Holding off their opponent's comeback bid and going on a big run to gain some separation came later.

For the Jazz, Friday night really was about beginnings.

After beating the host Minnesota Timberwolves 94-80 behind Matt Harpring's 25 points off the bench and 19 apiece from Andrei Kirilenko and Mehmet Okur, Utah is back to even at 25-25.

Starting from scratch, in other words.

"The most important thing," Carlos Boozer said, "is we got the win. We're back to .500 now, and trying to stay above that."

The feeling Friday was much the same for Boozer himself, who compared his first NBA game after going 361 days without to that initial trip to kindergarten.

"I told 'Tag (teammate Greg Ostertag) before the game it felt like the first day of school or something," said Boozer, who missed the final 31 games of last season with a foot injury and the first 49 of this season with a hamstring strain sustained during early October training camp. "My heart was beating a little faster, and anticipation was building."

It continued to do just that even after the opening tip.

Boozer, Utah's leading scorer and rebounder last season, did not make his 2005-05 season debut until the start of the second quarter, with the Jazz up 23-18 at the time.

His stay in the game — six minutes and 13 seconds, all in one stint — was about what might be expected from someone who has gone nearly one full year between appearances.

"He looked like scared, because he's been out a long time," Okur said. "But he looked good. So I think he's gonna be fine. He's gonna be ready to go after All-Star break."

That comes next week, after the Jazz visit Houston tonight — Boozer will play, so long as he is medically cleared, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said — and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

Until then, 6:13 is all there is to break down on Boozer.

He opened matched against Kevin Garnett, merely Minnesota's nine-time All-Star. He missed his first shot, a jumper that went wide right. He picked up a couple of quick fouls, both the span of nine seconds. He scored his first and only basket on a reverse layup, fed by rookie Deron Williams. He dished one assist, returning the favor for Williams. And he passed on what would have been third shot, which will be addressed in due time.