Utah Jazz notebook: Big game gets big cheers for Big Fes

Throughout Friday night's 111-98 win over the Clippers, four young men sitting eight rows behind the Jazz bench went wild for big No. 44.

They cheered Kyrylo Fesenko on during one of his best nights as an NBA player, made synchronized arm motions while pointing his way, and chanted "Fes-en-ko!" and "Fes! Fes! Fes!"

Fesenko, starting for just the second time in place of the injured Mehmet Okur, even acknowledged them with a peace sign during a timeout.

Perhaps shocked, Jazz teammates also heard them loud and clear. Then the third-year big man heard it from them. He said players mockingly asked him things like: "Is that your family? That's your assistants doing that? Like how much are you paying them?"

Fesenko swears he didn't pay them. He didn't know them, either, and laughed when it was suggested that perhaps they served LDS missions in Ukraine.

"I just have a great personality, probably," he said. "That's why."

Perhaps the loudest, they weren't the only ones cheering for Fesenko during a game in which he gave a nice inside offensive presence and provided some solid interior defense after he decided to not fall for Chris Kaman's head fakes.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan told him, "Good job young fella" after the game — a compliment that meant even more to Fesenko than his fan club.

"Trust me, that's the highest thing I get from him," he said. "That's enough for me to make my day."

Sloan told reporters that Fesenko was "terrific" and was pleased the big center's commitment to working hard in practice is paying off.

Sloan credited Fesenko for helping limit L.A.'s offense to 38 second-half points. He also liked what he saw on the offensive end, where the 22-year-old was aggressive in hitting 5 of 6 shots.

"He's 7-feet tall and 300 pounds and ... tonight he tried to take the ball to the basket," Sloan said. "He didn't try to finesse anybody. He's just got to rare up and try to go through people, and I think that's where he can help us as we move forward."

Okur also complimented his temporary replacement in the starting lineup, lauding Fesenko for playing "a lot better" after two rocky years.

"He play with a lot of confidence right now," Okur said. "He came in with a great shape. He's been really nice during the practice and during the games."

The good-natured Fesenko was surprised to hear this was only the second double-digit scoring performance in a young career that includes just 32 NBA appearances.

"Really? Just second?" he asked. "Keep looking. It's going to keep getting better and better."

Good news for his club.