Utah Jazz guard C.J. Miles had a strong practice session Tuesday, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. Miles, who sprained his left wrist Saturday during a scrimmage, ran through full-contact drills.

"I was glad to see it. ... I thought he got after it on the defensive end really good," Sloan said.

Sloan has yet to settle on a starting lineup for Utah's preseason opener Thursday against Portland at Energy Solutions Arena. He will wait until a shootaround Thursday to make a decision.

Point guard Deron Wiliams and center Al Jefferson are the only set starters right now. Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko are competing for the power forward position; Kirilenko, C.J. Miles and Gordon Hayward are available at small forward; Miles and Raja Bell are options at shooting guard.

Sloan acknowledged Wednesday that he is still debating how to use Kirilenko and Millsap in the lineup. Both could begin the regular season as starters or one of the two could come off the bench. Kirilenko's strength at the 4 and his success as a starter last season is affecting Sloan's decision. As is the fact that Millsap is a natural 4 who has waited four years to become a starter. Sloan said the biggest issue if Kirilenko and Millsap start is who will replace Millsap's bench production.

"That helped us win a lot of games," Sloan said. "Are we going to get that out of another player? Or is Andrei going to play that position? All that stuff is just guesswork. I don't think any of it's in stone."

He added: "I've got to worry about who's going to finish more than I worry about starting."

— Brian T. Smith

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: tribjazz