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Since draft night, the Utah Jazz have insisted that Trey Burke and Dante Exum will be able to coexist in the backcourt.

In practice, they've been happy to see the two point guards do battle.

"They've been competing against each other," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. "Dante's thrown himself into it defensively and they're making each other better."

Exum has impressed early in training camp, but the rookie still has a long way to go as he prepares for his first season.

"It's going great," Burke said. "I think we're both competing at a high level. He's learning. He's a young player. He's kind of like in the position I was in last year with a lot of stuff coming at him."

Burke, who started 68 games last season as a rookie, said he's entering his sophomore season faster and stronger and better prepared to take on the league's bigger guards — and at 6-foot-6 Exum is a perfect test.

"I go against guys like that all the time," Burke said. "Last year, going up against the bigger guards in the league, I think that prepared me well."

Snyder said the two have indeed also been paired together at times in practice. But their head-to-head battles should pay dividends in the long run.

"We're pushing each other in practice each and every day," Burke said. "We can only get better from here."

A happy birth-day

After holding two-a-days Tuesday and Wednesday, the Jazz canceled practice Thursday. Turns out, it served a couple of purposes. Snyder and his wife, Amy, welcomed a new daughter, Madeleine, on Thursday afternoon. But the coach said his players had also earned a day off.

"It worked out well," he said. "Alec [Burks] told me we should have more children so they get more days off. But we felt like we worked really hard the first couple days. We've got an enthusiastic group. If they're giving all that, we'll be smart about taking care of our bodies and our legs and getting rest. They came out and played really hard this morning."

Pacing his players over a long season might especially be necessary in light of this prediction Snyder made of his young team: "We'll practice more than most teams over the course of the season, I would imagine."

Gobert goes home

Center Rudy Gobert was sent home before Friday's morning practice with "gastric distress."

Feeling for Felix

Guard Carrick Felix is out for a month after spraining his left shoulder on the first day of practice.

"Carrick ran into a good clean screen," Snyder said. "He was trying to get over the top of it and caught his shoulder. It's unfortunate because he's worked real hard. But those things happen. Hopefully he'll get back quickly." —

Trail Blazers at Jazz

P Preseason opener, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

TV • ROOT