Just getting in felt good for Miles, who has played in only six of the last 11 games (for a total of 39 minutes) since he wound up the odd man out of the rotation after Kyle Korver's arrival.

"All I can do is just continue to keep working,'' Miles said. "Even in games like this game, to play eight, nine minutes, I haven't played in a couple games more than like three minutes. It was good to play more than a couple possessions."

What makes Miles' situation even more difficult is that he is only 20 and scored in double figures in five games at the end of December-beginning of January after Gordan Giricek was sent home from a road trip and then traded.

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has repeatedly praised Miles and said he is doing everything he can to find him minutes. "We've told him, 'You're doing a good job,' " Sloan said. "That's the frustrating part for him, doing a good job and not getting to play is really tough."

Miles is a restricted free agent this summer, but Sloan didn't hesitate in saying he sees Miles' future with the Jazz.

"He knows what we're doing,'' Sloan said, adding, "Some guys, it takes a little longer than others, but he's been here and he's gone through all that stuff and he's picked it up. He's picked his level of intensity up a great deal, [too]."

Almond update

Even with the Utah Flash in the middle of six-game road trip, Sloan still gets a report from every game Jazz rookies Morris Almond and Kyrylo Fesenko play with the NBA Development League affiliate. What, then, did Sloan make of Almond scoring a league-record 53 points in one game and then going 5-for-20 with nine turnovers two nights later?

"That's why they have that league. That's the importance of that league,'' Sloan said. "I think it gives guys a chance to understand, 'What am I doing one day, and one day then I'm not getting anything done?'

"The most important thing is to be this way for 82 games" - Sloan made a horizontal motion with his arm - "be as consistent as you can be every single night, do the right thing, understand what you're doing in the offense. It makes you a better player."

Briefly

Deron Williams said he would invite New Orleans guard Chris Paul to a Super Bowl party at his house tonight. The Jazz and Hornets will play Monday at EnergySolutions Arena.

rsiler@sltrib.com