Kirilenko, who missed his third game Saturday after suffering the hip injury against Dallas, will do some court work today, according to team officials, and will be examined on Monday. He will travel with the team on its road trip that begins with a Tuesday game at Chicago.

How much he will play when he does return could be determined by how much actual court work he has in the next couple of days, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.

The Jazz play at Milwaukee on Wednesday, the night after facing the Bulls.

"The biggest thing is how much work he can do before the game, in practice, that is the big thing," Sloan said.

Sloan said he felt comfortable continuing to start C.J. Miles in Kirilenko's place even though Miles hasn't made much of an impact.

"It's an opportunity for him," Sloan said. "I don't want to start Matt [Harpring] because we need somebody off the bench to score and play."

Definite difference

Jazz players say they try to play their hardest in every game, but they also readily admit they find a different level this time of the season when teams are battling for playoff positions.

"Everybody knows it's playoff time and everybody picks it up just knowing what is going on," Miles said. "This is when basketball is at its all-time best, when the intensity is there and every play is a big play. It's fun to watch guys like Steve Nash, [Carlos Boozer and [Deron Williams], guys who are already good, step up their game that much more."

Briefly

Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson combined to score 35 of the Nuggets' 54 first-half points. . . . Mehmet Okur's four three-point shots in the second quarter was one shy of the franchise record for three-point shots held by Gordan Giricek. . . . Deron Williams posted 14 points and 16 assists, his 39th double-double.

Flash lose to Idaho

The Idaho Stampede rallied from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to upend the Utah Flash 95-90 in NBA Development League play in Boise, Idaho.

Luke Jackson made two free throws with 22 seconds left to give the Stampede a 92-90 lead, and the Flash were unable to tie or take the lead en route to the defeat.

Gabe Pruitt led the Flash with 22 points, 19 in the first half. Cory Violette posted a double-double for Idaho with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

lwodraska@sltrib.com