Still, Sloan thinks his Jazz are capable of more.

Much more.

"We've got to try to get tougher, try to understand what we're doing each possession, try to get a little smarter," he said. "That's all you can do, is try to get better."

NOTES: The Jazz are now calling starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer's injury sustained in Wednesday's win at Denver a "severely bruised" tailbone. They're also calling Brewer, who landed hard on the floor after getting yanked down by Nuggets big man Kenyon Martin, "doubtful" for tonight ... Sloan did not say who would start if Brewer cannot go. Presumed possibilities: reserve swingman C.J. Miles, who has started at small forward when starter Andrei Kirilenko has been out so that Sloan's regular rotation is not disturbed; backup shooting guard Kyle Korver; or Kirilenko, with backup Harpring starting at small forward ... While in New Orleans later this month for NBA All-Star Weekend, Jazz-assigned NBA Development League All-Star Morris Almond of the Utah Flash will compete in the D-League's Feb. 15 H.O.R.S.E. contest — a revival of the CBS-aired shooting matches from 30 or so years ago that included late Jazz great Pistol Pete Maravich. Almond's competition in the shooting event: former Weber State and University of Utah big man Lance Allred of Idaho, Fort Wayne's Jeremy Richardson and Kasib Powell of Sioux Falls.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com