Warriors getting rest from Nelson News Golden State Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. - Stephen Jackson, Golden State's leading scorer this season and its leader in playing time, was perfectly healthy Sunday. But even with the Jazz in town for what for them was an important NBA Western Conference game, Jackson didn't play anyway.

Beyond referring inquisitors to Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle, Warriors coach Don Nelson refused to expound on why he's decided to sit one veteran regular on a rotating basis - and why he'd sit such an important player merely for supposed rest so early in the season. "I've already talked about it enough," Nelson said "I've explained the reasons why, how we're doing it. Everything's fine. "Read the paper," he added. "It's in the paper. Okay? I'm all done." And with that, Nelson - who along with Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is a finalist this year for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame - walked away from a small group of reporters. Said Nelson, who sat guard Jamal Crawford in Friday's game against Charlotte, to the Chronicle: "It's actually better for everybody, if you think about it. Rather than play a guy 15 minutes, just give him the day off. When he plays, he can play his normal kind of minutes or close to it. I've found over the years that it's better to do it this way." Yet Nelson offered no explanation Sunday as to why he's already doing it in late February and early March. Sloan, for his part, seemed okay even with the perception that the Warriors are perhaps tanking games and at a minimum cheating their fans. "I don't have a problem with that," he said. "I've always said the other coaches have got to do what they've got to do, and what they feel comfortable (with). And my job is to get us to play, regardless of circumstance. "I can't coach (their team)," Sloan added. "I've got a tough (time) doing mine. . .I try not to get wrapped up in all that." PLENTY MORE: With his 20 assists in Sunday's victory over the Warriors, Jazz point guard Deron Williams recorded his fourth career game with at least that many. Retired Jazz point and all-time NBA assists leader John Stockton finished his career with 34. "Yeah," Williams said when asked about Stockton. "He was a beast. "He played (19) seasons, though," Williams added. "I mean, I've got a couple more (to catch up)." Actually, 15 more. MISC.: Reserve big man Kyrylo Fesenko (flu-like symptoms) did not make the trip. He wouldn't have been active even if he had, Sloan said. . .Jazz guard Ronnie Brewer's nine rebounds Sunday were a career high. . . The Jazz's 36 total assists tied their season high. EMAIL: tbuckley@desnews.com