Utah Jazz: Deron Williams, Derrick Rose celebrate by playing

A lot of people got a kick out of playing and watching football on Thursday... Millions thoroughly enjoyed doing laps around the table with Tom Turkey and the holiday spread trimmings. Then there were those who delighted in mapping out a shopping strategy for today's mad rush.

And Deron Williams and Derrick Rose?

Their form of "fun" — a word they both used before their Turkey Night tussle — was getting to play against each other.

"It's fun to play against Derrick," Williams said. "He's one of the top point guards in this league, a young guy who's making a name for himself."

Though Williams had much more fun this time if you judge the scoreboard — a 105-86 blowout win for the Jazz over the Bulls at EnergySolutions Arena — Rose gets up for occasions like these.

The 25-year-old Williams, who's now in his fifth season, is one of the established NBA players the second-year player respects most. The young Chicago guard, who just turned a legal 21 last month, even claims Williams is worthy of being called a star while the 2008 No. 1 overall pick says he isn't.

They both looked the part on Thursday.

Williams had the Jazz's offense clicking and finished with 21 points on a sizzling 9-of-11 shooting to go with six assists and three steals.

Rose turned in a 19-point effort, though he struggled a bit (four turnovers and just two assists) and his road-weary team struggled more against the Jazz and their leader.

"He's one of the guys I look up to," said Chicago-bred Rose, who entered the NBA after one season at Memphis. "I'm happy I have the opportunity of playing against him."

Make that a rare opportunity.

Though they're widely considered to be two of the NBA's elite point guards of the future, the rising stars don't have much of a playing history and especially not when healthy.

This Thanksgiving Day showdown, in fact, was the first time they've played when both players were close to being at full strength.

The second-year Rose has nearly regained his form after suffering a preseason ankle injury, but he's closer to 100 percent than Williams was last December when he played against the Bulls' standout playmaker for the first time.