Andrei Kirilenko started on James. Ronnie Brewer and Gordan Giricek took their turns. Williams had a chance to be in front of him too. And the Jazz even played some extended zone, all in an effort to quiet the Cavs All-Star.

And in a sense they did.

James did record his 11th career triple-double before the third quarter was done, and did wind up with 32 to make things ever-so-interesting, yet it was Utah that went into the final 12 minutes up five at 72-67.

And it was Williams, not James, who was the subject of all postgame talk.

"I tried to call timeout," said Sloan, whose Jazz were playing for the first time in a stretch with three games in four nights that continues Friday at Seattle. "(Just going) is not what we teach."

But Williams, Sloan added, "popped in there, and Boozer saw him, and got him the basketball. Fortunately we got it in-bounds, and he (Williams) knew what to do with it."

NOTES: The Jazz led 52-48 at the half thanks in part to a 13-point opening quarter by Boozer, a four-steal first period from Brewer and a 15-point, three-steal second quarter by Millsap. ... . Jazz first-round draft choice Morris Almond made his NBA debut with 43.8 seconds left in Wednesday's opening quarter, and logged three scoreless minutes in the opening half. He did not play in the second half. ... Williams did not exit Wednesday's first quarter until 3:08 remained in the period. That's nearly two minutes longer than Williams, who wound up logging 45 minutes total, has played in any previous opening quarter this season. "I'm in great condition," Williams said afterward. "You know, I'm ready to play 48 if I've got to. I feel comfortable doing that." ... The Cavs were without ex-Jazz forward Donyell Marshall (sprained right wrist), shooting guard Larry Hughes (bruised lower left leg) and guard Eric Snow (sprained left knee). ... Former Jazz swingman and Utah native Brown played for Cleveland despite sustaining a left pinky finger avulsion fracture during Tuesday night's game at Golden State. He finished with eight points in 26 minutes. ... Millsap's career-high 24 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 10-of-13 shooting from the free-throw line.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com