Almond, Fesenko aid Blue team win

NEW ORLEANS — Utah Flash-assigned Jazz rookies Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko did some damage in the NBA Development League's own All-Star Game here Saturday, scoring 20 and 14 points, respectively, in their Blue team's 117-99 victory over the Red.

Almond actually had reservations about playing in the game but ultimately decided it was in his best interest.

Similarly, he gradually took to the idea that if he's not going to get NBA playing time with the Jazz, it's not all that bad to be playing big minutes with the Flash.

"I'm fine now," the 2007 first-round draft choice from Rice University said Saturday.

"It first was frustrating, but like all things you get over it and you learn to make the best of it," said Almond, who has had two 50-plus point games with the Flash and shot 8-of-10 from the field after getting hot in Saturday's second half. "I'm having a blast down here."

Fesenko, meanwhile, played particularly hard while snagging eight rebounds to go with 6-of-9 shooting on mostly dunks and layups. The second-round draft choice also took a step back to take a fun late-game trey try, but he missed the mark.

Fesenko, too, has come to grips with the reality that most of his rookie season will be spent in the D-League.

"I hope so," the big Ukrainian said when asked about perhaps being recalled later this season, "but I don't want to rush nothing. And (Jazz) coach (Jerry) Sloan thinks that it will be better for me to stay (with the Flash), and they don't need me right now, this moment, I agree."

BRYANT A GO: It looks like Kobe Bryant is going to go in tonight's NBA All-Star Game, so Deron Williams won't get his shot.

Bryant didn't practice Saturday because of an injury, but the league will make him play in tonight's game. That dashes Williams' hopes for being named as a replacement player.

"I wish I could play in the game," Williams said Saturday night, "but it didn't work out."

Yet the Jazz, All-Star Carlos Boozer suggested, have only themselves to blame for not also getting point guard Williams into the league's in-season showcase game.

"Honestly," Boozer said, "I really feel like if we had a better December (than 5-11) Deron would have been in the game. Us losing those games, we were hurting him."

Williams' last hope to get in, after failing to win fan support as a starter or enough votes from Western Conference coaches to be a reserve, was if Bryant withdrew because of a torn ligament on his dislocated right pinkie finger.