Ready or not — Starters get some rest, subs lead way in playoff warmup

Who needs starters — or stars, for that matter — anyway?

That is what the Jazz's subs had to be wondering after they carried the load in Utah's 101-91 victory Wednesday night over Houston, a largely inconsequential regular-season finale for both teams and a JV-like warmup to the real deal first-round, 4-5 seed NBA Western Conference playoff series between the two that convenes Saturday (7:30 p.m. MDT, KJZZ, ESPN) in Texas.

"We got some rest. I think it's important," said Jazz starting point guard Deron Williams, who logged just 17 minutes — 20 below his season average — despite coach Jerry Sloan's pregame promise to give a sold-out EnergySolutions Arena crowd of 19,911 its full money's worth. "You know, they rested some guys, we rested some guys. And, beyond that ... some other guys got some playing time. A lot of playing time, really."

Rookie Dee Brown — the Jazz's No. 3 point behind Williams and Derek Fisher — logged a career-high 31 minutes, scored a career-high 13 points, dished eight assists and nabbed three steals as Utah's subs and scrubs comfortably handled Houston's.

Jazz starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko played 22 minutes, but no other Jazz starter went for more than 19 — allowing not only Brown, but also veteran guard Gordan Giricek (14 points) and rookie forward Paul Millsap (14 as well, plus 10 rebounds for just his seventh double-double of the season) to easily surpass their season scoring averages.

The only Jazz starter to score in double figures was center Mehmet Okur, who mustered 12 points.

Houston, meanwhile, didn't even pretend to be concerned about offering the paying public a fair deal.

The Rockets sat All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming — official reason: "rest" — and had usual backup center Dikembe Mutombo on its inactive list. Houston also limited two of its other three usual starters, small forward Shane Battier and point guard Rafer Alston, to fewer than 12 minutes apiece.

It's with that in mind that the Jazz did not make too much of Wednesday's win, one which allowed them to finish the season 51-31 — their best record since 2000-01 — and to close with a tidy 29-13 record at home.

"They're trying to rest up for the series, so they can be fresh," said Jazz season scoring leader Carlos Boozer, who had just nine points Wednesday, "and we're well-aware of that."

"It's tough," backup small forward Matt Harpring added. "They weren't playing their guys. They're gonna play completely different when they get out there. We know that."