Araujo lifts Jazz, helps himself in pasting of Pacers

The Utah Jazz have to decide — perhaps as early as today, though they still have a few days' leeway — on whether to pick up the option-guarantee for the fourth year on Rafael Araujo's rookie contract. If they don't, he'll be an unrestricted free agent next season.

Araujo said that was not on his mind Thursday night as the Jazz, minus injured Mehmet Okur (sore hip flexor) and Derek Fisher (bruised pelvis), couldn't do much wrong, leading big nearly all the way in a 122-96 victory in the Delta Center over the Indiana Pacers in Utah's final preseason game.

The Jazz open the regular season Wednesday, hosting Houston, after going 4-4 in the preseason. Indiana finished 3-5.

Araujo "did himself some good tonight," said team owner Larry H. Miller. In the postgame locker room, Andrei Kirilenko pointed the way to Araujo's locker without prompting.

Even coach Jerry Sloan, not given to false praise, seemed favorably impressed with what the Brazilian from BYU — who came to Utah in a June 8 trade for Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley — showed in his last game before the contract decision.

"I thought he had some moments where he played pretty well," said Sloan. "He seemed to have a little better feel for what we're trying to do offensively. I thought defensively, he used his body pretty well. If he learns how to do that (he can) be a factor — because he's got a great body for basketball."

Araujo had 11 points, 10 rebounds, a couple of steals and an assist, and only two fouls in a game that saw 73 fouls called, and the ball just wound up in or near his hands a lot defensively for deflections, in 23 minutes played.

Point guard Deron Williams led all Jazzmen with 21 points and seven assists, and Al Harrington of the Pacers was the top scorer with 24.

Araujo said Thursday's game was the most comfortable he's been, and he felt as thought a summer of hard work on his body style, conditioning and his skills — he did not go home to Brazil — finally seemed to pay off.

"I work hard every day in the gym, and coaches telling me every day to have patience and let the game flow to you, go do the little things, rebound and defense," Araujo said.

"So I just tried to let it be, and today it started flowing.