Once Deron Williams came back, the team known for the pick-and-roll started running the fast break.
Williams had 11 points and 15 assists in his return to the lineup, leading the Utah Jazz to a 117-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
The Jazz shot 54 percent from the field and had three players score 21 or more points.
“We had some highlights tonight. We did a good job of getting out and running and the guys did a good job of finishing for me,” Williams said after his teammates threw down 13 dunks.
Williams had missed seven straight games. He badly sprained his ankle in the preseason, came back for two appearances on Nov. 11 and 12, then went back to the bench when he still wasn’t ready.
The Jazz, known best for excellent halfcourt execution, have an added dimension with their point guard on the floor.
“We’re just glad to have Deron back,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “In the open floor, he gets guys the basketball. That’s what makes him such a great player and when someone can get you the ball in the open court, you run harder.”
6; Toronto 93, Charlotte 86; Cleveland 117, Oklahoma City 82; Orlando 96, Philadelphia 94; Boston 119, Golden State 111; Phoenix 110, Minnesota 102; Detroit 110, New York 96; Indiana 91, Houston 90; San Antonio 98, Chicago 88; Portland 106, Miami 68; New Jersey 116, Sacramento 114 in overtime; and Denver 106, the Los Angeles Clippers 105.
In Salt Lake City, The Jazz lost their previous home game against Chicago on Monday without Williams after winning 14 straight and 33 of 34 at EnergySolutions Arena before the loss.
“He’s a great player, an Olympic gold medalist, a hard worker and he’s the general of this team. He’s been out most of the season, but with the general back, he generated energy with his teammates,” Memphis rookie O.J. Mayo said.
Paul Millsap, starting for the injured Carlos Boozer, had 24 points and 16 rebounds. Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Brewer each added 21 points as Utah punished Memphis for its mistakes, scoring 28 points off the Grizzlies’ 16 turnovers.
“They ran at us every time and every turnover was a basket for them. They pushed harder and played harder than we did,” Memphis center Marc Gasol said.
Spurs 98, Bulls 88
At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 21 points, rookie George Hill added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Spurs won their sixth in seven games.
Sunday in Philadelphia.
Pacers 91, Rockets 90
At Houston, Danny Granger tipped in his own miss with 13 seconds left and Indiana rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter. Troy Murphy scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter.
Luis Scola scored 15 points and matched a career high with 18 rebounds for Houston, which played without injured Tracy McGrady.
Trail Blazers 106, Heat 68
At Portland, Ore., reserve Channing Frye scored 17 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 16, and Portland led by as many as 40 points.
Sergio Rodriguez had 11 assists as Portland (10-6) won for the ninth time in 12 games.
Celtics 119, Warriors 111
At Boston, Ray Allen scored 25 points and Rajon Rondo had a season-high 22 in the Celtics’ sixth straight victory. Paul Pierce had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 13 boards.
Corey Maggette paced the Warriors with a season-high 32 points and Stephen Jackson had 30.
Cavaliers 117, Thunder 82
At Cleveland, LeBron James played just 17 minutes, tying his career low, and scored 14 points as the Cavaliers improved to 12-3 for the first time in franchise history and remained undefeated at home in eight games.
Oklahoma City (1-15) has the worst record in the NBA and lost its 13th straight game. The Thunder are 0-3 under interim coach Scott Brooks.
ts 86
At Toronto, Chris Bosh had 39 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Raptors.
Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 23 points. Emeka Okafor had 16 points and 14 rebounds, but the Bobcats still lost for the fifth time in six games.
Magic 96, 76ers 94
At Philadelphia, Rashard Lewis scored 19 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left. Dwight Howard had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Tony Battie had a season-high 20 points as Orlando (11-4) won for the seventh time in eight games.
Elton Brand scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half for Philadelphia (7-8), which lost its second straight.
Suns 110, Timberwolves 102
At Minneapolis, Shaquille O’Neal had 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to help balanced Phoenix snap its three-game losing streak in Minnesota.
Al Jefferson continued to dominate Phoenix with 28 points and 17 rebounds, including a franchise-record 12 on the offensive end. He averaged 30.5 points and 15.3 rebounds in four games against Phoenix last season.
Pistons 110, Knicks 96
At Auburn Hills, Mich., Richard Hamilton led a balanced attack with 17 points and Detroit had seven other players score between 10 and 17 points.
Al Harrington led the undermanned Knicks with 25 points.
Hawks 102, Bucks 96
third time in four games after losing four straight.
Richard Jefferson scored 25 points for Milwaukee and rookie Ramon Sessions had 21.
Nuggets 106, Clippers 105
At Los Angeles, Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and hit a go-ahead jumper with 1:15 remaining as Denver won after blowing a 13-point lead.
Zach Randolph debuted for the Clippers following last Friday’s trade that sent Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas to the New York Knicks. He missed seven of his first eight shots and finished 3-for-11 with seven points.
Nets 116, Kings 114, OT
At Sacramento, Calif., Vince Carter scored 25 points, Devin Harris made the go-ahead basket and added 18 points, and New Jersey won at Arco Arena for the first time since Nov. 30, 1997.
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