Marvin Williams’ hot hand is leading presesaon Jazz

Marvin Williams dinged the pinkie on his right hand during the Utah Jazz’s preseason game with the L.A. Clippers on Saturday. And after his team’s 99-91 victory the Jazz forward sat in front of his locker with an ice pack on his right hand.

Was he icing down the pinkie or simply cool off his hot hand?

“I smashed my finger out there, I’m just icing it down,” Williams said, looking at the ice pack in a towel.

Yeah, but his hand really was pretty hot. Playing in his sixth game as a member of the Jazz, the former Atlanta Hawk scored a game-high 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He went 3-for-4 at the free throw line and behind the 3-point arc.

As a team, Utah shot just 42 percent from the field. Without Williams it would have been 39 percent.

“I’m trying to get better,” Williams said. “I had an opportunity to knock down some shots today, I got some good looks (at the basket). The guys did a good job of kicking it out when I was open and I was able to finish the play.”

Through six preseason games, Williams is Utah’s leading scorer, averaging 12.2 points while hitting 54 percent from the field and a sizzling 64 percent behind the 3-point line (9-for-14).

Williams said he isn’t uncomfortable with any aspect of the Jazz’s system, but he is still learning it.

“I’m still a new guy, I’ve only been here three or four weeks now,” he said. “I’m still trying to learn my teammates, still trying to learn what’s expected of me.”

Williams said he felt Saturday’s effort represented “a pretty complete game” for himself.

Indeed, to go along with 18 points he had eight rebounds, four steals and an assist.

“He’s done a tremendous job so far coming in for us,” Jazz teammate Gordon Hayward said. “It’s always difficult probably when you go to a new team like that, but he’s done a great job playing hard and competing.”