Those fears couldn't have been more unfounded. Even Sloan had to admit that "our guys really kind of lit up a little bit" as Williams finished with 11 points and 15 assists and the Jazz hammered the overmatched Memphis Grizzlies 117-100.

"It felt pretty good," Williams said. "I know my limitations right now. I'm probably not going to come back and score 25 and 12 [assists], but I can do my part and get guys shots and just try to run the offense."

With Williams back in the lineup, the Jazz had six players score in double figures, shot 53.7 percent, led by as many as 27 and scored a season-high 117 points. The Jazz (10-6) also regrouped after losing Monday to Chicago at EnergySolutions Arena.

Starting in place of Carlos Boozer, one of four players still out injured for the Jazz, Paul Millsap totaled 24 points and 16 rebounds. Rudy Gay (27) and O.J. Mayo (22) combined to score 49 points for a Memphis team starting three rookies.

Williams played 29:25 and waved to the crowd after leaving to a standing ovation with 3:52 left. He originally suffered the sprain in an Oct. 18 preseason game, cut short his original return earlier this month after two games, but now hopes to be back for good.

By all accounts, Williams was better than expected after the long layoff, with C.J. Miles saying, "He had a lot more rhythm than I thought he would, like his jump shot and just everything, like being able to push the ball and see everything as fast."

Most remarkable was how effortless Williams made the game for his teammates. Mehmet Okur scored 21 points and knocked down 7 of 9 shots as Williams passed out of double-teams or found him for three-pointers after getting the ball in the post.

Ronnie Brewer matched his career-high (again) with 21 points as Williams rifled passes to him in the open court. Miles had 13 points, with Williams driving and flipping a pass to him for a three-pointer and serving up an alley-oop dunk in the third quarter.

"I think I bring a confidence out there to the team and guys are comfortable with me out there getting them shots," Williams said.

The Jazz scored 36 points in the third quarter, closing with a 12-2 run after Williams went to the bench, and led 95-71 entering the fourth. Williams still had to come back with 8:25 left, but collapsed the defense on a drive and hit Andrei Kirilenko for a three-pointer.

"Like every time something happened, Deron was part of it," Kirilenko said. "He really was an engine, really under control and in charge. He kind of brings that confidence like from the guy with the ball."

Walking around the locker room before the game, Williams' ankle still was visibly swollen. To keep it from stiffening, Williams hopped in the tunnel behind the Jazz bench and kept a heating pad on the ankle at other times.

Williams said he was a little hesitant to attack the basket, but he wasn't shy about posting up Memphis guards Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry. "It would hurt," Williams said, "but it only hurts for about 25, 30 seconds and then it goes away."

Williams still has to decide about playing in both of the Jazz's back-to-back games Friday and Saturday. The Jazz, meanwhile, won their seventh consecutive game against the Grizzlies, with Sloan saying it was time to make up for lost ground.

"They can't allow to let down because we're in a little bit of a hole from where I thought we'd be," Sloan said. "We let four or five games get away from us that were winnable games and I didn't have a full deck."

rsiler@sltrib.com

Storylines

* IN SHORT: Deron Williams plays better than expected in his return from a sprained ankle, finishing with 11 points and 15 assists.

* KEY MOMENT: The Jazz take a 59-46 lead into halftime as Ronnie Brewer, catching a pass in midair, lobs to Andrei Kirilenko for a dunk.

* KEY STAT: Paul Millsap exceeds Carlos Boozer's averages (20.5 points, 11.7 rebounds) in finishing with 24 and 16 on Wednesday.