Utah Jazz: Paul Millsap makes the most of his minutes

SALT LAKE CITY — Paul Millsap, during his first three years as a professional, was a huge bargain for the Utah Jazz by NBA standards. The overachieving second-round draft pick proved to have an outstanding work ethic and a nose for rebounding the basketball, and that made him a vital cog for the Jazz.

Utah didn't want to let him go — especially to division rival Portland, which signed Millsap as a restricted free agent last summer to a front-loaded, four-year, $32 million contract.

The Jazz brass had to swallow hard, realizing that retaining Millsap would put the team above the salary cap for the first time. But they matched the Trail Blazers' offer anyway.

And Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is certainly glad they did.

Millsap scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed a season-best 15 rebounds on Saturday night in leading the Jazz to a 106-86 victory over the undermanned New Orleans Hornets at EnergySolutions Arena. It was Millsap's third consecutive double-double.

"He's been huge for us this year," said Sloan of Millsap. "Our team needs somebody who can come off the bench and give us instant energy. That's the thing he has done for us. He's capable of playing extremely well as a starter, but when I look at our team I think he's the best suited (of the big men) to come off the bench and give us a lift."

Millsap, instead of sulking upon his return to a reserve role despite being paid starter-like money, has continued to work on his game and has become a much better midrange shooter.

Millsap's scoring average is down a bit from last season — primarily because he is getting slightly less time on the court with Carlos Boozer healthy — but his shooting percentage is a career-best 54.7 percent.

"Paul's made himself a better shooter, and that has been critical," said Sloan. "If he hadn't worked on his shooting, teams could double team him inside and he wouldn't be the player he is now."

Millsap, a three-time NCAA rebounding champion at Louisiana Tech, had his best game on the boards this season, and his 15 rebounds were just two short of his career high.

"The ball just fell in my hands a few times tonight," said Millsap modestly. "Sometimes it happens that way."

Sloan, however, knows Millsap's rebounding prowess is not just good fortune.

"(Millsap's) got a great knack for going after the ball," said Sloan. "He goes after it. He doesn't wait for the ball to come to him. That's the thing that makes him such an effective rebounder."

Millsap's three straight double-doubles have come while starting forward Andrei Kirilenko (calf) and center Mehmet Okur (stomach ailment) have missed playing time. Millsap may have to return to getting a little less floor time in the near future if the Jazz get fully healthy.