Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said it best at Saturday's pregame shootaround about these weeks on the NBA calendar: "This is a tough time of the year for a lot of people. Just before the All-Star break, you see a lot of games, you don't know the reason for the outcome of it."

The Jazz avoided becoming the latest victims of the inexplicable, holding on for a 116-106 victory at EnergySolutions Arena that if nothing else denied the shorthanded Denver Nuggets their first-ever sweep of the season series over Utah.

Not that the Jazz's eighth consecutive victory and 12th win in the last 13 games came easily, even against a Nuggets team playing them for the second time this season without injured All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

The Jazz (31-18) stormed to a 38-point first quarter, which turned into a 66-point first half, and led by as many as 18 in the third quarter. Yet the Nuggets closed within three points in the fourth quarter and had a shot to tie before the Jazz restored order.

"It wasn't the best game from us, the prettiest game, but a win is a win and we extend our streak," Deron Williams said.

"You look out there and see they don't have Billups and they don't have Carmelo Anthony and you say, 'Well, you should have won a little easier, probably,'" Sloan added.

Andrei Kirilenko continued his resurgence with 22 points and five steals while hitting 8 of 11 shots. Williams had 22 points and nine assists and Carlos Boozer returned after missing three games with a strained calf to finish with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

Having lost their previous three games to the Nuggets -- including two in January -- the Jazz were in danger of being swept 4-0. Now they have to wonder if they will be able to catch Denver for second place in the Western Conference after the All-Star break.

"You look at our schedule after All-Star, we have a lot of teams under .500," Williams said, "but at the same time we've struggled with teams like that."

The Nuggets (34-17) lead the Jazz by two games in the standings but own the tiebreaker having won the season series. The Jazz, however, were able Saturday to avenge their last loss (Jan. 17 in Denver) before the current win streak began.

Kirilenko again was the difference maker in his 12th game since returning to the starting lineup. He got open for layups and looked at a three-pointer for seemingly an eternity before draining it as part of the Jazz's monster first quarter.

He opened the second half with two three-point plays and stole a Kenyon Martin pass in the backcourt, leading to a hook shot for Boozer and a 79-61 lead for the Jazz three minutes into the third quarter.

"He's just playing great," Williams said of Kirilenko. "There's nothing else I can say. What he's doing on both ends of the floor. The problems he's causing for people. The way he's attacking the basket.

"He's shooting the ball well. He's getting steals at crucial times in games. He's blocking shots. He's just playing like an All-Star."

The Jazz took just a 93-86 lead into the fourth quarter, with the Nuggets making it a three-point game as Malik Allen and Anthony Carter drove for dunks. Carter missed a potential three-pointer, though, and Wesley Matthews ran for a layup on the break.

Kirilenko followed by stripping Allen and racing the other way for a dunk, with Nuggets coach George Karl calling timeout. After logging 40 minutes Saturday, Kirilenko said the increased playing time contributed to his inspired play.

"Basketball's always been like this," Kirilenko said. "It's a game of the moment. You catch that moment and you keep riding it."

Anthony missed his eighth game with a sprained left ankle while Billups surprisingly was ruled out about 90 minutes beforehand. Billups had scored a career-high 39 points with nine three-pointers in Denver's 126-113 victory Friday over the Los Angeles Lakers.

But Billups sprained his right ankle in the third quarter and couldn't go Saturday. Of course, the Jazz lost to the Nuggets in similar circumstances barely a month ago, falling 105-95 in a Jan. 2 game both Anthony and Billups missed.

rsiler@sltrib.com