Brown didn't make 'good' decisions

SEATTLE — Jazz shooting guard Devin Brown was widely heralded by teammates and media for his reserve-role play Friday night in Utah's 105-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Brown, benched in favor of Milt Palacio after having made three straight starts, gave the Jazz a much-needed boost, scoring 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field in 26 minutes.

Jerry Sloan, however, was less than impressed with Brown's late-game performance.

The Jazz coach did not hold back, ripping Brown for driving to the basket with Utah leading by two, 12.9 seconds remaining and more than nine seconds still on the shot clock — only to have Clipper Elton Brand, the NBA's fifth-leading shot-blocker, stuff his reverse layup attempt.

"You've got to know what time is left on the shot clock," Sloan said. "It just looked like he got greedy for the two points, instead of trying to run the clock down and get the ball to what we wanted to do."

Brown's errant choice was followed by two game-tying free throws from Sam Cassell with 9.7 seconds to go. With 2.4 seconds left, though, Jazz rookie point Deron Williams bailed out Brown and the Jazz by banking home a runner from the free-throw line.

Still, Sloan was bugged by Brown's call to drive rather than run off time.

"Those," he said, "are not good basketball decisions."

KIRILENKO UPDATE: Jazz small forward Andrei Kirilenko said his back was not in the greatest shape for Friday's win, but he played anyway.

"I can move, I can jump," he said. "It's a little uncomfortable, but that's OK."

Kirilenko missed the second half of Monday's overtime win at Golden State and Wednesday's loss to Charlotte due to muscle spasms in his lower back, but he returned to play 36 minutes Friday.

GIRICEK UPDATE: Usual Jazz shooting guard Gordan Giricek said Saturday he is scheduled to have another MRI performed Monday on his still-swollen Achilles tendon, and only then will he have a better idea of how much longer he will be out.

Giricek has missed 18 games due to Achilles tendinitis since early December, including 13 straight since Feb. 1.