Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer gets boos and the last laugh in 93-89 Bulls win over Jazz

Citing a lack of energy, Sloan resigned the next day along with longtime assistant Phil Johnson.

Likewise, that was the beginning of the Jazz's Tyrone Corbin era.

As he's done all season, Sloan attended Friday's game, sitting 13 rows behind the Jazz bench.

With or without the legendary coach in attendance, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau believes the Jazz and Sloan are synonymous.

"When you think of the Jazz, you just think of how hard they play and how unselfish, smart and tough (they are), and what they stand for. They've been a gold standard in the league for such a long time," said Thibodeau, who coached his Bulls teams to wins two years ago and Friday.

"Obviously it started with Frank Layden, and you can't say enough about what Jerry Sloan did as a coach," Thibodeau added. "He stood for all the good things about this league — play hard, smart, tough, unselfish — a great leader, great coach, great person. You can't say enough about him."

Corbin fell to 72-73 since taking over for Sloan — a more impressive record when you factor in the 8-20 record his first team struggled to after losing its top two coaches and then trading away its best player, Deron Williams.

Corbin's goal is put his own imprint on the blueprints laid out by his predecessor.

"We're trying to create an identity of who this team is, and the organization, the principles and the character and (what) this organization has always (had) is still going," Corbin said. "We don't want to lose sight of that. We want to play according, because we want to make sure that the Utah/Salt Lake people that support us are proud of who we are, and that's what we're trying to work to be."

NOTES: Jazz sixth man Gordon Hayward (sprained right shoulder) missed his seventh straight game but continues to improve. He still doesn't have a timetable for returning. ... Utah backup Earl Watson is expected to play tonight at Sacramento after missing the past four games with bone bruising and a stress fracture in his lower right leg, Corbin said. "I think they kind of took that option out of my hands a long time ago, because they figure I'll play hurt no matter what. It's their option," Watson said. "I'll be ready if needed." ... Utah has three more ESPN games: March 13 at Oklahoma City; March 18 vs. Knicks; and April 17 at Memphis.

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