Miles seizing his opportunity

MIAMI — With banished Gordan Giricek back home in Salt Lake City, C.J. Miles is making a grab for the Jazz's backup shooting guard vacancy.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, for one, likes the reach he's shown.

"C.J., he's tried to be involved," Sloan added after Miles finished with a season-high 20 points, three off his career high, on 8-of-14 field shooting in Saturday's 104-102 loss at Miami. "He's run our offense pretty well. He's executed. He's made some shots, and hopefully, his confidence gets better.

"He has worked harder on the other end of the floor, too, so he can stay out there — I mean, not just trying to exchange baskets, but he's trying to work on the defensive end."

Miles knocked down three 3-pointers early in Saturday's fourth quarter, and he was so hot the Heat were double-teaming him by game's end just to keep the ball out of his hands.

That's only happened one other time in his NBA career, Miles said.

The 20-year-old also had 10 points on 4-of-6 field shooting in Friday's win at Orlando — the Jazz's first game played since Sloan got into a war of words with Giricek during a Wednesday loss at Charlotte and subsequently ordered him to fly back home.

"I'm just trying to take advantage," Miles said, "of every minute I'm on the floor."

Giricek, meanwhile, remains in Utah — his future fate with the Jazz uncertain.

The team has today and Monday off from practice, and Sloan said Saturday that Jazz coaches and management would not meet to discuss the matter until Christmas Day.

Options include reinstating Giricek, buying out the $2.5 million or so that remains on his contract or trading him.

Several teams have expressed potential trade interest in Giricek, reportedly including Dallas and Phoenix. If the Jazz were to waive Giricek or buy him out, there also supposedly are multiple Western Conference clubs interested in signing him.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Jazz season scoring-leader Carlos Boozer remained home for Christmas in Miami, where his son Carmani has been battling sickle cell anemia.

The young boy was on hand Saturday to watch his father play, as was Boozer's wife, CeCe.

"He's doing well," Boozer said. "He's doing very well."