He hardly sounded like himself afterward, either. There is no invincibility at home right now for the Jazz, only vulnerability, and their star point guard is no exception as he plays his way back from a sprained ankle.

"I'm just out here stinking up the court," said Williams, who had three shots blocked in the third quarter and committed four turnovers in the fourth quarter. "Just got to play better, get my confidence back, and I'll be fine."

Williams was the picture of frustration as the Jazz lost for the third time in their last five games at EnergySolutions Arena. There is no hope of compensating for the absences of Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko with Williams still struggling in his return.

"I'm just confused right now," Williams said. "I'm shooting when I'm supposed to pass and passing when I'm supposed to shoot. I've just got to get my head back mentally."

The Jazz gave up a 16-2 run out of halftime, trailed by as many as 16 in the third quarter, shot a season-worst 39.7 percent and committed 17 turnovers. The only bright spot in coach Jerry Sloan's view was Paul Millsap, who had 20 points and 13 rebounds in 44 minutes.

"We can't just say, 'We'll get them next time,'" Sloan said.

"This stuff rolls in front of you real fast. Pretty soon you'll wake up and say, 'Wow, we've dug a hole for ourself and now's the time to come out of it.' Well, it usually doesn't work that way."

Three minutes into the third quarter, Williams decided enough was enough and tried to dunk for the first time since returning. He came out of a timeout and split two defenders on a drive but was blocked by Joel Anthony for the second time in the quarter.

Then in the fourth, Williams was stripped twice by rookie Mario Chalmers. He gave chase and fouled Chalmers as he flipped in a layup for a three-point play and 85-72 lead. The other steal turned into a dunk for Shawn Marion with 2:52 left. Not only is he still fighting through the ankle injury, but Williams also strained his right hip flexor at the start of the third quarter of Tuesday's victory at Sacramento. He donned the leggings, which extended to his calves, for the first time to try to stay warm.

Williams finished with 13 points, five assists and six turnovers while shooting 4-for-12. "So far I think he's been helping our team out more than he's been hurting our team," Ronnie Brewer said.

The Jazz couldn't capitalize in the first half as Dwyane Wade (23 points) spent more than 10 minutes on the bench in foul trouble, then were doomed at the start of the third quarter. As Miami scored nine straight points, the Jazz missed seven straight shots.

Anthony blocked four shots and Wade capped the 16-2 run by hitting two jumpers over C.J. Miles and driving for a three-point play. Sloan benched Miles and Mehmet Okur in the quarter in favor of Morris Almond and Kosta Koufos.

"We're getting away from doing what we do," Miles said. "We're making everything hectic, taking fast shots. Our sets are getting broken, so we're putting a lot of pressure on Deron to try to run a pick-and-roll almost every time down."

For the first time, Sloan admitted how devastating the Jazz's injuries have proved to be. They played Wednesday without Boozer or Kirilenko, who is expected back Friday. Even Kyrylo Fesenko wasn't spared, straining his lower back in warm-ups.

"I'd be disappointed if I had our team together, but you've got to be realistic a little bit and fair," Sloan said.

After finishing 37-4 at home last season, the Jazz are just 8-3 this season. With a quarter of their season now complete, the Jazz (12-8) trail Portland by two games and Denver by 1 1/2 games in the Northwest Division and sit sixth in the Western Conference.

"We're not going to make excuses," Williams said. "We lost to a team that came in here and played harder than us, were a step quicker than us and wanted it more."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Storylines

* IN SHORT: The Jazz trail by as many as 16 in the third quarter in losing for the third time in their last five home games.

* KEY STAT: The Jazz give up a 16-2 run to start the third quarter, capped by three straight Dwyane Wade baskets.

* KEY MOMENT: After going 37-4 at home last season, the Jazz are only 8-3 at EnergySolutions Arena this season.