Utah Jazz beat Kings, finish 8-0 in preseason

NBA injury report

SALT LAKE CITY — No bubbly liquid was sprayed in the locker room, a parade won't be planned and don't count on a banner being raised to the EnergySolutions Arena rafters.

But go ahead, Utah Jazz fans, feel free to call your team the 2010 NBA Preseason Champions.

You'll have to pardon the Jazz, however, that they kept their celebration to an extreme minimum — even after Friday's 82-71 win over Sacramento Kings wrapped up a franchise-record 8-0 exhibition campaign.

And the Jazz's limited celebration, which included the usual post-win streamers shower and high-fives, wasn't due to the fact Memphis also won to finish with a similar perfect preseason record and a coclaim to the unofficial title.

"I think more was made of that than it should've been," Jazz guard Raja Bell said. "For the fans, it's great we're 8-0. But for us, we understand it doesn't amount to much."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was much more concerned than celebratory after the win, which Utah pulled off without Deron Williams (excused absence for personal reasons) and with an injured C.J. Miles (sprained right ankle) spending the second half in the training room.

Sloan made it clear he is not pleased with the way the Jazz have practiced and played since four players were cut Thursday morning.

"Since that happened," Sloan said, referring to the Jazz cutting Sundiata Gaines, Othyus Jeffers, Demetris Nichols and Ryan Thompson. "I don't know if we feel like we were here in a comfort zone. We have to work. We're not going to be able to win unless we work and play hard defensively and try to help each other."

That strong defensive effort, he believes, didn't happen against the Kings, who outrebounded Utah 42-35 but were ultimately doomed by 36 percent shooting.

Sloan was also displeased with Utah's offensive effort, which he thought included far too many individual performances. The Jazz hit 44 percent of their shots, led by 12 points apiece from Bell, Al Jefferson and a 6-for-6-shooting Kyrylo Fesenko.

"We've got to execute and do a better job of that," Sloan said. "Teams will take a lot of stuff away from us that they gave us in the exhibition season. ... That's why you try not to get too high."

Jazz players do believe, however, that momentum gained in the preseason while all of the new guys learned to mesh with each other can carry over into the regular season.