Perhaps if Andrei Kirilenko had played for the Jazz last season, things might have been different.

The Dallas Mavericks returned to the Delta Center Monday night to face the Jazz for the first time since eliminating them from the first round of the playoffs back in May.

The two teams picked up pretty much where they left off, with hot tempers, blows to the face and plenty of intensity and emotions.

Karl Malone was at his best with 30 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, and John Stockton wasn"t bad, either, with 21 points and 12 assists.

The difference, however, may have been the play of Kirilenko.

The rookie had 16 points, six steals and three blocked shots, including one that Malone called the most amazing play he had ever seen, as the Jazz rallied to beat the Mavericks 107-98.

""I"m trying to be useful for my team," said Kirilenko, who was all that and more.