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San Antonio • Josh Howard is getting closer.

After having his minutes limited by Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin during the preseason, Howard has played a key role in Utah's last two games.

The nine-year veteran recorded 24 minutes Friday during the Jazz's home win against Philadelphia. He was then the second player off Utah's bench Saturday in a 104-89 loss to the Spurs.

Howard entered the game averaging 8.7 points, 2 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22 minutes.

He walked off the AT&T Center hardwood having poured in 18 points and having grabbed seven rebounds in 26:15.

"I feel it coming," Howard said. "I just can't be Superman in one night."

The long-armed, athletic small forward joined the Jazz in good shape but not ideal NBA form.

However, his aggressive playing style, versatility and range provide Utah with assets it sorely needs. Howard has already caught Corbin's eye. And once the former Dallas standout is ready to give the Jazz 30-plus minutes per game, it could be hard to keep him off the court.

"He's coming," Corbin said. "The thing with him is, his shot [gets] flat as he gets a little bit more fatigued."

Settling down

Corbin said after the loss to San Antonio he's closing in on his first- and second-unit rotations.

Jamaal Tinsley, Alec Burks and Jeremy Evans only played a combined 7 minutes against the Spurs, while Enes Kanter was limited to 12:45.

The numbers mirrored what the four players recorded Friday against the 76ers. Burks did not play, Tinsley received 1 minute of action, Burks got 5 and Kanter clocked 15.

Ideally, Corbin prefers to run an 8-to-9-man rotation. But thanks to the NBA lockout and a compressed 66-game season, he knows 10 to 11 is more realistic.

"I'm getting a lot closer to finding which guys we want but it's not [set] in stone," Corbin said.

Briefly

Corbin plans to stick with a starting five of Devin Harris, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson. He added, though, he could change the lineup down the road. … Jefferson was a late-game addition to the first unit after being inactive Friday due to an inflamed right ankle.

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