The Jazz have only one preseason game remaining and Sloan has brought Kirilenko off the bench in five of six preseason games so far.

Kirilenko is averaging 9.3 points, 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 22.7 minutes.

Asked about moving Kirilenko back to the starting lineup, Sloan said: "Probably not. Not at this stage. I hope that works out. Andrei's played awfully well coming off the bench."

If Ronnie Price starts in Williams' place, Sloan said he felt Ronnie Brewer and Miles could help handle the ball if necessary.

"Each one of those guys can get us in our offense," Sloan said. "We may not run the floor as well. Those guys are probably not true point guards, obviously, but you can still get the ball up the floor and get into your offense and execute your offense.

"That's what you have to do coming down the stretch, anyway. You're not going to get too many fast breaks unless you're a tremendous defensive team that can block a lot of shots, which is something we don't do. That's something you just have to adjust to and go play."

Kirilenko played almost as a point forward alongside Price after Williams was injured Saturday.

But Sloan described Kirilenko's play with the second team in Matt Harpring's absence as "refreshing" and added he likes the mismatches he creates against bigger forwards.

Sloan was impressed that Miles "didn't search out shots" in Friday's preseason game.

Miles said he's gotten more comfortable starting with every game he's played.

"It's great to know, so now in the game I'm just trying to settle in to where I'm going to be as the season goes." Miles said, adding, "In the beginning I think I was trying to force things a little bit, just trying to show that I can do stuff, and it's not necessary."

After the Jazz matched the four-year, $14.8 million offer sheet he signed with Oklahoma City this summer, Miles hardly could have asked for a bigger role.

He played a total of 26 minutes in seven playoff games last season.

"Coming off the bench is not an issue for me," Kirilenko said. "As long as I have time on the floor, I feel pretty good."

Carried away

Miles was asked what he was thinking as he and Brewer carried Williams off the court in Chicago. " 'He'll be back in the second half,' that's what I was thinking, to be honest with you," Miles said. "It's always been that way."

Briefly

Brevin Knight didn't practice Monday to help heal his injured left thumb, but told teammates he'd return today. . . . Jarron Collins (right triceps tendinitis) and Harpring (ankle infection) continue to do rehab work. . . . The Jazz are so depleted at point guard that Kyle Korver was used in a 3-on-3 scrimmage last week. "I'm like, 'Come on, man. This is not my position,' " Korver said. . . . The Jazz are holding a food drive Wednesday to benefit the Utah Food Bank at Karl Malone Toyota in Draper. For each bag of nonperishable food donated, fans can receive one free ticket to Thursday's game, up to six tickets per person.

rsiler@sltrib.com