Utah Jazz: Team hopes to improve back-to-back results

With a less-than-stellar 3-18 record in the back half of back-to-back sets last season, there's no doubt what the Jazz's mission in such situations — including tonight's visit to Dallas — will be this season.

"It's important for us to do better on those second nights," point guard Deron Williams said.

"(3-18) wasn't (acceptable)," Williams added. "Just the whole road situation, period, wasn't acceptable."

It's for that reason Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has pondered a tactic to address the matter, though — at least for now — he doesn't plan to impose it.

"I've always disliked curfews, because you feel like a cop all the time as a coach," said Sloan, whose Jazz went 15-26 on the road last season and so far this season are 0-1.

"All the time I've had curfews, I hated it," he added. "I think players ... if they're not (going to be mature), then there comes a point in time when you try to replace those people."

For now, he'll rely on individual responsibility — and hope for the best.

"I can't follow them around," said Sloan, who expects more toughness from his younger players in back-to-backs and more locker room leadership when it's needed in that regard.

"I think that's where they make the decision, 'Do I spend another 20 minute out tonight when we've got a game tomorrow, or do I forget about it?' "

OKUR UPDATE: Center Mehmet Okur returned Monday, one game after missing one due to a mildly sprained left ankle and left knee sustained trying to take a charge in the first minute of last Wednesday's season-opening loss at Denver.

Playing reluctantly with a brace on his knee, Okur scored a game-high 21 points with 9-for-13 field shooting in a 113-96 loss to Houston.

"I don't like it," he said, "but it is what it is, so I've got to play with it."

The big Turk is happy, though, that he didn't have to miss more time.

"It could have been worse," he said, "and I feel lucky."

Backup Kyrylo Fesenko, who scored 10 with 5-for-6 field shooting starting in Okur's place Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers, returned to the bench Monday.

The 300-pound Fesenko didn't play until the blowout loss's final two minutes because of an unfavorable matchup situation against a smaller, quicker Rockets club missing usual starting center Yao Ming (foot surgery).