SALT LAKE CITY – Andrei Kirilenko scored a season-high 24 points in his return to the lineup, grabbed 14 rebounds and made two key defensive plays in the game’s final moments, lifting the Utah Jazz to a 105-102 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.

Mehmet Okur had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and made a 3-pointer in overtime to put Utah ahead 102-100. Keith McLeod added a career-high 22 points, including the final two of the game on two free throws with 3.5 seconds remaining in overtime.

With the Jazz clinging to a 102-101 lead, Kirilenko blocked Pau Gasol’s layup and then was fouled. He made one free throw and, 10 seconds later, stole the ball and dribbled out the clock to thwart the Grizzlies’ final attempt to tie the game.

After missing three games – all losses – with back spasms, Kirilenko returned to Utah’s lineup and dunked on the first possession. He made a 3-pointer on the last play of regulation and moved fluidly throughout the game.

The Jazz are 8-4 when Kirilenko starts and just 2-8 when he doesn’t play.

Gasol scored 32 points and Eddie Jones had 25 as the Grizzlies dropped the opener of a four-game road trip after blowing an 18-point lead in the third quarter.

Damon Stoudamire missed his first six field goal attempts and had just one point before the final minute of regulation. But he then made a 3-pointer, another jumper and two free throws with 6.3 seconds left in regulation.

Kirilenko answered with a deep 3-pointer from the left angle to send the game into overtime.

The Grizzlies built a 76-58 lead with 3:46 left in the third quarter before the Jazz stormed back. The Grizzlies went 10:15 without a field goal spanning the third and fourth quarters and didn’t score in the until period until Jones made two free throws with 6:47 remaining.

By then, the Jazz had scored 20 straight points and taken their first lead 78-76 on Greg Ostertag’s drive to the basket. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way.

In the second quarter, Jones’ reverse dunk capped a 14-2 run to push Memphis to a 50-35 lead. Gasol scored a season-best 20 points in the half and the Grizzlies led 56-45 at the break.

The Jazz, who also got 20 points from reserve Matt Harpring, had dropped four straight games to Memphis.

Notes: Mehmet Okur got a technical in the second quarter after arguing a series of questionable calls. The Grizzlies made their first 26 free throws. Shane Battier, who had five fouls and just two points, was the only Memphis player who missed a free throw until Gasol missed two in overtime. … Utah played its first home game following a 1-4 road trip, its longest of the season.

AP-ES-12-27-05 0023EST