Utah Jazz: Okur sets pace over Indiana

Even with injured big men Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer both out, Indiana evidently did not read the memo.

That would be the one suggesting to actually guard sharpshooting big man Mehmet Okur.

The Pacers obviously didn't get the message about not giving up, either.

Ultimately, though, Okur's career-high scoring night — 43 points, including 18 in the first quarter alone — trumped Pacer persistance as Utah held on Monday night to beat Indiana 120-113 and close a four-game homestand 4-0.

"I felt like I needed to step up," said Okur, who hit 13 shots while attempting a career-high 19 field goals — including 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

All this on a night All-Star power forward Boozer missed his 26th game because of a left knee that needed arthroscopic surgery, and replacement-starter power forward Millsap didn't play because earlier in the day he had fluid drained from his own bruised right knee. "I took what they gave me," added Okur, who was left open on the perimeter for much of the evening and even in the fourth quarter — despite having 41 of his 43 after three periods. "I mean, they gave me open shots — and I took it."

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan didn't learn until about two o'clock that Millsap — who practiced Sunday, and took part in Monday's shootaround — would be unavailable.

"But that's OK," Sloan said. "That's just part of basketball. Somebody else has to step up and play, and do what you can to win a ballgame."

So step Okur did.

The big Turk, though, wasn't the only one on the ladder as the 23-15 Jazz opened with a 70-63 halftime lead — marking the most points they've scored in a first half this season, and five more than their previous high.

Utah also got a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double from usual sixth man Andrei Kirilenko — who opened in the power forward position as the injury-plagued Jazz used their 13th different starting lineup of the season — and a 23-point, 11-assist double-double from still under-the-weather point guard Deron Williams.

It was all needed, too, as stubborn Indiana trimmed what had been a 20-point lead late in the third quarter to as few as three at 109-106 with just less than three minutes to go.

But two of Kirilenko's season-high 23 included a putback dunk of a 3-point attempt by Williams, making it 111-106 with 2:26 left.

Williams followed with a driving layup and a trey try that fell, and even with a Jarrett Jack 3-pointer squeezed between those two buckets the Jazz had what they needed to take a four-game win streak onto the road.