"Al Jefferson spent training camp and the first few weeks of the preseason feeling his way through Utah's intricate offense.

Like many new marriages between player and team, there have been bumps. He didn't come to the Jazz in the best of shape, so his conditioning wasn't ideal. He didn't have any experience playing in Jerry Sloan's offense, so he was forced to think his way through the first few games.

But there always has been the sense that when his timing showed up, the Jazz would see the player who regularly averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds a game, when healthy.

The breakthrough happened Thursday night in a 108-97 win against the Phoenix Suns, and Jefferson will look to seize on the momentum Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Against the Suns, Jefferson scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes, his best performance to date in a Utah uniform. He was almost automatic when he caught the ball close to the basket. He made jump shots and finished around the rim. He was comfortable, and it showed.

"I always thought that things were going to get better with time," Jefferson said. "It was all about knowing where I'm supposed to be and doing what I needed to when I got the ball. I wasn't really worried too much about the conditioning. I knew that the more I played, the more comfortable I was going to be.""