Utah Jazz: Team shares in win over Bulls

On Thanksgiving night, they shared.

The basketball.

The buckets.

Even the gravy.

The Jazz rolled by Chicago 105-86 Thursday in their first-ever Turkey Day game in Utah, getting a season-high 28 points with 12-for-14 field shooting from power forward Carlos Boozer on a night many enjoyed a piece of the action.

Deron Williams added 21 points, Ronnie Brewer 15, Mehmet Okur 14 and Paul Millsap 12.

"That was a totally different team that we were tonight," said coach Jerry Sloan, whose Jazz had a disappointing loss Tuesday to Oklahoma City.

"We were a lot more alive, a lot more aggressive than what we were the other night. ... Everybody out there had a pretty good showing."

No one, though, offered more than Boozer, the subject of offseason trade talk involving the Bulls and other teams.

The two-time NBA All-Star also had eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks in 35 minutes.

"I'm in a great groove, having a good time out there," Boozer said. "My teammates are trying to find me, and I'm just trying to put the ball in the hole and get us a win.

"I'm having a blast, man."

Even after Thursday, though, Boozer wouldn't quite concede he's happy he remained in Utah.

"I'm happy regardless," he said when asked. "I told you guys, man: If they keep us together, we can be really good."

Sloan, for his part, seems pleased Boozer stayed.

"Carlos has been great all along," he said.

"People thought when he got hurt (in previous seasons) he wasn't making money, but it was one of those things. The doctors told him not to play. He didn't do anything that was illegal or anything.

"I've always had a good relationship trying to coach him," Sloan added. "When he came back (this season) he was fine and said, 'I'll do the best I can to play.' And I think he's played some of his best basketball since he got through the start of the season. He's playing like he's capable."

Boozer sat for all but three minutes in the fourth, a period in which Utah led by as many as 25.