Utah Jazz show some swagger in big win

Carlos Boozer wasn't back.

But Andrei Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, Brevin Knight and Deron Williams' explosiveness all were. And so, too, was the Jazz's swagger at home in a 114-87 win Friday night over the Toronto Raptors.

In a late-starting ESPN-televised game at sold-out EnergySolutions Arena, the 13-8 Jazz had their way with the 8-10 Raptors — who were playing for the first time since firing coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday.

Utah used a 17-0 run in the opening quarter for early comfort, and gained extra satisfaction extending its blowout advantage to as many as 29 in the fourth.

"It was one of those games where we had a lot of people play well, and that's what we have to do to be able to win," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who had six scorers in double figures, including Mehmet Okur with a game-high 21 on 9-of-13 field shooting.

Paul Millsap had 17 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and a steal for the Jazz, who avoided losing three straight home games for the first time in three years.

Millsap's double-double was his seventh in a row starting in place of All-Star power forward Boozer, who was out for a ninth consecutive game because of a strained left quadriceps tendon, and he got it despite a left big toe sprained in Wednesday's loss to Miami.

"His play's just been outstanding ... going after the ball relentlessly, trying to rebound and do whatever he has to do," Sloan said. "It's really been fun to watch.

"His toe is about that big around," Sloan added, circling his thumb and fingers wide, "and he's out there playing on it. I can't say enough about that."

Boozer isn't expected to play tonight at Phoenix, when the Jazz close their third straight back-to-back set.

But Friday wasn't so much about who was absent as who, and what, was not.

Sixth man Andrei Kirilenko returned after missing two games due to irritation in his right ankle, and finished with seven points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes.

Reserve forward Harpring returned after missing four straight games and 5-of-6 due to a strained lower back, an injury that prompted him to get an epidural injection earlier this week.

Harpring, who has played just eight games this season, scored a season-high 14 points and shot 6-of-9 from the field in 12 minutes.