Giricek returns, says he must get in shape

SAN ANTONIO — Gordan Giricek returned to the Jazz lineup on Friday, two weeks and six missed games after a hard hipcheck from Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert left Utah's backup shooting guard with bruised ribs.

Giricek hit just 1-of-6 shots from the field while playing 14 minutes in the Jazz's 102-93 loss to San Antonio, and afterward admitted his conditioning is not where it needs to be.

"It's gonna come back. I mean, I'm not scared," he said, adding he should be good to go for Sunday's visit with Houston. "I felt good. I was pretty quick, so it's going to be OK."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan sure hopes so.

"Obviously he hasn't played, and he wasn't at the top of his game. But that's what you have to try to do, is try to get him some minutes, see where he is going to be and see if he's going to be able to fight through it," Sloan said. "I mean, some of these guys have got to step up if we're going to try to get out of this six-game losing steak on the road. We can't afford to feel for ourselves."

The Jazz also played a second straight game without backup small forward Matt Harpring, who remained in Utah with a stomach virus that sent him to the hospital with dehydration last Wednesday.

Harpring's absence was not without notice.

"I firmly believe that with a healthier Gordan (Giricek) and Matt Harpring available we win the game," Jazz shooting guard Derek Fisher said. "That's how I feel, but obviously I'm biased."

Harpring planned to fly to Houston this morning and rejoin the team in time for Sunday's game against the Rockets.

FLAGRANT BEHAVIOR: The Spurs were able to gain some second-quarter separation from the Jazz with a four-point possession that pushed their lead from five, at 40-35, to nine.

It happened after Jazz center Mehmet Okur first was flagged with a flagrant-1 foul for sending a driving Tony Parker to the floor, then Parker hit the two resulting free throws and Manu Ginobili banked in a jumper on the retained possession.

"I don't think he was trying to hurt anybody," Sloan said of Okur. "He may have gone down a little but, (but) anytime there's a guy going to the basket I think you can almost call a flagrant foul every time (on) a guy, because when he goes up to block the shot or go after him usually guys follow through on that.