The Mailman didn't deliver on Friday, but the resourceful Utah Jazz didn't need Karl Malone at the Palace, sending the Pistons on their key five-game trip with a 100-97 loss.

With Malone having the flu and missing only the eighth game of his 17-year career, rookie Andrei Kirilenko had a career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting and got a hand on a desperation jump shot by Jerry Stackhouse with 3.1 seconds left.

"Karl's a big part of the team and it's very hard to play without him," said Kirilenko, who replaced Malone in the starting lineup. "He's the leader of this team. I think we just tried to be focused. We needed this game because we're in a fight with the Clippers for the playoffs."

Donyell Marshall (16 points, 10 rebounds) and guard John Stockton (14 points, 10 assists) each posted double-doubles as Utah improved to 35-30 while ending a four-game losing streak.

Stockton was also given a block when he got a hand on a desperation jumper by Damon Jones, who finished with 14.

"We ran the floor and seemed to get better baskets," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We had 52 points inside because we passed the ball better. Kirilenko was awful quick to where he was going."