Utah Jazz

Even as they were left with nine players in uniform for the fifth consecutive game, the Jazz continued to build momentum with an overtime victory Saturday over Detroit to kick off a season-long six-game homestand.

The Jazz were coming off the high of Thursday's triumph in San Antonio, where they had dropped 20 consecutive regular-season games dating to February 1999, but they suffered no letdown in beating Detroit for the ninth consecutive time.

Although they've been left to start rookies Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor, as well as third-year center Kyrylo Fesenko, in recent games, the Jazz are enjoying their best stretch of the season, winning three straight and four of the last five.

They trailed by as many as five points in the fourth quarter against the Pistons but took advantage of a big 3-pointer by Andrei Kirilenko with a minute left in regulation to take the lead. Utah never trailed in overtime.

The Jazz will continue their homestand Tuesday against Oklahoma City, which already has beaten San Antonio, Miami and Washington this season. The Thunder could be the Jazz's top future competition in the Northwest Division with their young nucleus of players.

The Thunder, who have lost four consecutive games in Utah, dating to their Seattle SuperSonics days, are giving up nearly 10 points a game fewer this season than last.

JAZZ 100, PISTONS 97 (OT): The Jazz ran their winning streak against the Pistons to nine consecutive games overall and seven straight at EnergySolutions Arena. Carlos Boozer scored 10 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while Andrei Kirilenko finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Boozer hit three jumpers down the stretch and went 10-for-10 at the foul line for the night.

• The Jazz's nine-game winning streak over the Pistons is tied for their longest against any team in the league. They also have beaten both Toronto and Memphis nine consecutive times, though the Pistons streak is the most impressive, given their run of Eastern Conference finals appearances in that time.

• The Jazz failed to sell out their fourth consecutive home game, announcing a crowd of 18,355 for Saturday's victory over the Pistons. It's noteworthy considering the Jazz sold out 40 of 41 games the past two seasons and are set to pay the luxury tax for the first time in franchise history this season with an $82 million payroll.

Quote To Note:

"We made the right plays at the right time in the fourth quarter and overtime to have a chance to win."

Rotation:

Starters—Point guard Deron Williams, Shooting guard Wesley Matthews, Small forward Ronnie Brewer, Power forward Carlos Boozer, Center Mehmet Okur. Bench—Forward Paul Millsap, Guard Ronnie Price, Forward Andrei Kirilenko, Center Kyrylo Fesenko.

Player Notes:

• C Kyrylo Fesenko made his third consecutive start in Mehmet Okur's absence and fourth overall this season. Fesenko finished with four points and five rebounds in 13 minutes, yet the Jazz are now 4-0 in games he starts.

• G Eric Maynor struggled with his shot in going 2-for-7 overall, 1-for-3 from 3-point range. Maynor did play in the fourth quarter against the Pistons—he was paired with Deron Williams in the backcourt—and finished with eight points and three assists.

• G Wesley Matthews has seen his numbers drop off in recent games, but he remains in the starting lineup. Coach Jerry Sloan has noted that Matthews has graded out the best this season of any Jazz player on the defensive end.

• G C.J. Miles has upped the intensity of his workouts with assistant coach Tyrone Corbin as he continues to recover from thumb surgery. Miles, however, is unsure when he'll be able to return and is trying to be cautious to avoid reinjuring his thumb.

Medical Watch:

• C Mehmet Okur missed Saturday's game, his third in a row, with flu-like symptoms. Okur showed up to the team's morning shootaround but was sent home and did not return for the game against the Pistons. Okur is not suffering from the H1N1 virus.

• G C.J. Miles (thumb surgery) hopes to resume playing in the next two weeks after suffering a ruptured ligament in his thumb during the preseason.

• G Kyle Korver (knee surgery) is projecting to return ahead of schedule after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in the preseason. Korver returned from a week at a California training center and expressed a belief that he could be back playing within the next two weeks.

• G Ronnie Price (sprained left big toe) has missed six consecutive games, but the Jazz have ruled out surgery. Price will continue to rehab in the hopes of returning in a couple of weeks or so. He would have missed four to six weeks with surgery.

• F Matt Harpring (ankle, knee problems) remains on the Jazz's roster but is unlikely to play again. Harpring continues to deal with the effects of a devastating infection that followed ankle surgery in 2008 as well as the effects of multiple knee surgeries throughout his career. Harpring did not join the Jazz for training camp or the preseason, remaining at home with his family in Atlanta.