Clippers host tuned-up Jazz

(Basketball News) - The Los Angeles Clippers try to get back on the winning track tonight, as they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Staples Center.

On Tuesday, Tim Duncan scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lift the San Antonio Spurs past the Clippers, 98-87, at the Staples Center.

Elton Brand scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss to San Antonio for the Clippers, who had a two-game winning streak halted. Chris Kaman added 18 points and eight rebounds for Los Angeles, while Corey Maggette netted 16, grabbed 11 rebounds and handed out six assists in defeat.

The Clippers are No. 5 in the Western Conference playoff race and hold a one- game advantage over No. 6 Memphis. They are 24-11 as the host this season.

Utah is 1 1/2 games behind the eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings for the final playoff berth in the West. The Jazz attempt to win their third straight game this evening, as they play the middle contest of a three-game road trip.

Mehmet Okur scored 24 points as Utah kept its playoff hopes alive with a 115-104 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.

Andrei Kirilenko finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and seven blocks in the win over Denver for the Jazz, who are 5 1/2 games behind the division-leading Nuggets in the Northwest.

The Jazz are 16-19 on the road this season. They will visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday at the Rose Garden

This is the third and final meeting of the season between the squads. In the two previous contest, both clubs picked up a victory on their homecourt.

Utah has lost three straight and four of its last five at the Clippers.