With Mailman Out, Jazz Reserves Deliver

Andrei Kirilenko knew he was getting a chance because of rare circumstances Friday night, and he made the most of it.

Kirilenko started in place of the ill Karl Malone and scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 100-97 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

“We knew that with Karl out, everyone on the team had to play over the top,” the rookie said. “He’s our leader on offense and our leader on defense. But this was a big game, and we really needed to win it. I want to play in the NBA playoffs.”

Utah ended a four-game losing streak despite the absence of Malone, who had flu-like symptoms and missed a game for health reasons for the first time in nearly 13 years.

Donyell Marshall and Jarron Collins added 16 each for Utah, while John Stockton had 14 points and 10 assists.

“Karl’s a Hall of Famer and our best player, so one guy isn’t going to replace him,” Collins said. “Every guy on the team has to step it up when he’s not on the floor.”

Jerry Stackhouse, who missed Detroit’s previous game with hip and shoulder injuries, led the Pistons with 24 points, and Cliff Robinson had 19.

Detroit opened a 96-90 lead with less than three minutes to play after a jumper and a three-point basket by Jon Barry. Utah tied the score at 96 when John Starks and Stockton hit consecutive three-point baskets.

After Collins drew a charge on Damon Jones, Starks missed a jumper but Collins grabbed the rebound. Stockton hit the go-ahead basket with 40 seconds left.

The Jazz made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the win, and Stackhouse couldn’t get a good shot off before the final buzzer.

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Orlando 124, Denver 102--Tracy McGrady had 30 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and a career-high six steals as the Magic won at Orlando, Fla., in a game that featured Tim Hardaway throwing a television monitor onto the court.

Hardaway was ejected with 7:20 left in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul. As he left the court, the Nuggets guard picked up a courtside monitor and threw it.

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New Jersey 97, Miami 78--Keith Van Horn scored 28 points and Jason Kidd had his seventh triple-double of the season, with 11 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds for the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Kenyon Martin added 14 points but picked up another flagrant foul when he shoved Jim Jackson in the second quarter. Martin already has been suspended for four games because of rough play and faces a one-game suspension for each subsequent flagrant foul.

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Washington 103, Seattle 98--Tyronn Lue scored a career-high 26 points, including five three-pointers, to help the Wizards win at Seattle and end a five-game losing streak. Brent Barry matched his career-high with 31 points for the Sonics, who lost for the third time in five days.

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Indiana 98, Minnesota 85--Brad Miller scored 23 points and Jamaal Tinsley had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Pacers at Minneapolis. It was a season-high sixth consecutive loss for Minnesota.

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Boston 103, Memphis 97--Antoine Walker scored 38 points as Boston overcame an eight-point deficit in the final 1:50 at Memphis, Tenn.

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Atlanta 104, Phoenix 89--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 33 points at Atlanta to help the Hawks send the Suns to their sixth consecutive road loss.