Fisher's influence is felt

PHOENIX — After playing 26 minutes off the bench and returning from a brief hamstring scare, Derek Fisher's calming influence was credited for aiding the Jazz's Friday-night win in Phoenix.

"I think Derek Fisher picked us up a great deal," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said of the veteran guard acquired in an offseason trade with Golden State, which just happens to visit the Delta Center tonight.

"It definitely helps out when he comes in," added second-season point Deron Williams, who finished in the backcourt with Fisher alongside him as the Jazz overcame a six-point deficit in the final two-plus minutes of a 108-104 victory.

The Jazz traded for Fisher, who won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, so they'd have someone who does the very things that thus far he has. And that is this: Add a veteran presence on the floor, especially late in games. "He's been all the way to mountain top, he's conquered the mountain top. He's real savvy," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said. "He's always confident, he's always focused — and that helps us out, because we're veteran deficient."

Sloan said before Friday's game that he fully intends to close most games this season with Williams and Fisher playing together.

Whether he'll be able to do that in the short-term, however, remains to be seen.

Fisher, who missed most of the preseason with a badly bruised tailbone, returned to close Friday after having his right hamstring checked out by trainers.

But he said he probably won't know the full extent of the injury, and if it's going to be a problem at all, until waking up this morning.

"I felt a tug in my right hamstring, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't too serious before continuing on," Fisher said. "I went to make a move defensively against (Leandro) Barbosa. I went to step, and my foot kind of slipped. I felt it pull a little bit, and I knew immediately it was hamstring.

"Fortunately I was able to come back out there for the last few minutes and give us a boost."

Fisher's 19-foot jumper with 1:51 to go pulled the Jazz to within two, and his two free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining sealed the victory.

BELL-RINGER: Ex-Jazz guard Raja Bell of the Suns apparently has tired of talking last season's playoff series in which he infamously clotheslined Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, and the suspension that stemmed from the incident.