PHILADELPHIA (NBA.com exclusive) --  The two highest-priced players on the Philadelphia 76ers have been inconsistent to say the least through nine games this season.

Elton Brand -- the club's marquee free-agent forward signed before last season -- and Andre Iguodala will be the key to the Sixers' success in 2009-10.

Iguodala had 11 points and 10 assists while Brand scored 11 points but the Sixers were ousted by the Utah Jazz, 112-90, on Friday.

Brand, who inked an $80 million contract, had been on the bench in four of the previous five games and he was there once again for the final 12 minutes. Iguodala was coming off a nine-point performance at New Jersey on Wednesday. In the past three games, Iguodala has been to the free throw line six times.

The Sixers will go as this duo goes. And it has been a struggle.

Brand (9.5 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game) is well off his career averages of 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Iguodala has played well in spurts, but has not shown the ability to string together strong games as consistently as other players of his caliber.

"For us, defense is the key," Brand said. "Guys are walking in the lane. Guys are getting offensive rebounds and getting wide-open shots."

Added Iguodala, "Our offense will be there. Right now, our defense has to get better."

As for the Jazz, well, they're just trying to get healthy. They had only nine players for this game after star point guard Deron Williams was excused from the team to attend to a family medical issue. Williams may rejoin the Jazz for Saturday's game at Cleveland, which is the conclusion of a four-game road trip.

Utah didn't have the likes of Matt Harpring, Ronnie Price, Kyle Korver and C.J. Miles.

Rookie guards Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor were each rewarded with their first career start. Matthews (16 points) and Maynor (13 points, 11 assists) sure took advantage of the situation.

"John Stockton sat on the bench for two-and-a-half years behind Rickey Green," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "You see how bad guys want to play."

Maynor was especially effective running the offense and didn't force shots like many rookies.

"I was excited when coach told me I was playing," said Maynor, who was selected 20th overall from Virginia Commonwealth. "I'm a confident player so I wasn't nervous. I was much more excited. It's a great opportunity. I just had fun with it. We have another game to play (Saturday), so I've got to come right back and be ready again."

Matthews, who was undrafted from Marquette, took a similar approach.

"I've been motivated since the draft when I wasn't taken," said Matthews. "I come in every day with the attitude of giving it my all. I always feel like I have a lot to prove. I think it's good because it keeps me motivated every single day."

Matthews controlled the tempo in the first half with a 14-point outburst. Paul Millsap added 14 points in the opening half and the Jazz committed only three turnovers while shooting 54 percent from the field.

Carlos Boozer (24 points and 12 rebounds) was one of seven Utah players in double figures, and the Jazz pushed their lead to as much as 26 in the second half.

Despite being shorthanded, the Jazz didn't change their approaches on offense or defense.

They moved the ball with precision on offense and found a number of layups on backdoor cuts. Nothing new here as long as Sloan has patrolled the sideline since 1988.

On defense, the Jazz rotated to the shooter and boxed out so as to avoid any Sixers offensive rebounds.

Sure, it's simple. But that's been Sloan's style all these years.

"We knew we didn't have the bodies here, but we had to play our game," said Boozer. "That's what I really like about this team. We don't change no matter who's in and who's out. There's consistency in how we prepare and how we play."