Utah Jazz will need energy to meet the Lakers

SALT LAKE CITY — Maybe it was because they got to sleep in Wednesday, their usual morning shootaround canceled because of the snowstorm with no sizzle.

Perhaps it's because of the inspiration their bench players have provided lately.

Or it could be because they felt guilty knowing what they'd be eating Thursday, and felt obliged to burn some extra calories before feasting on traditional Thanksgiving favorites.

Whatever the case, the Jazz — and especially their starters — offered up more energy in a win Wednesday night over the New Orleans Hornets than they've exhibited all season.

And they're counting on some carryover tonight, when the Los Angeles Lakers — the same team that has eliminated them from each of the past three NBA postseasons — visit EnergySolutions Arena for the first time this season.

Leftovers, anyone?

"It shows what we can do when we play hard," swingman C.J. Miles said of the effort against a New Orleans team that came to Utah with an 11-2 record, "and we are going to have to do it (tonight)."

"We hope it does (bleed into tonight)," power forward Paul Millsap added when asked about the Jazz's performance Wednesday. "We know what we have to do to win (tonight's) game. That (L.A.) is a good ball team. We know we will have to execute, and play solid defense to win."

Jazz players aren't alone in hoping that turkey and all the trimmings are a bridge from the showing against Chris Paul's Hornets to tonight's against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

"We hope we can carry it out again," said coach Jerry Sloan, whose 11-5 team has won three straight games and nine of its last 11. "You have to play with energy if you're gonna get anything done.

"I think our first group may have seen the second group, when they played with energy. They didn't always have success every time, but it seemed like something good was happening.

"Most importantly, they tried to help each other defensively," Sloan added. "The first group has a tendency to let guys get away, and get by them, and then expect help. We'll, you've got to help yourself first before you start yelling for help."

And you've got to make changes, the thinking in Utah went last offseason, before having an improved chance against the two-time defending NBA-champion Lakers.