Hornets aim to tune out Jazz

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is 2 1/2 games behind the eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings with four games left on its schedule, while the Jazz trail the Kings by 1 1/2 games and also have four contests remaining.

The Jazz have won two of the three contests between the squads this season. The Hornets have won two straight and three of the last five meetings in this series.

Utah has won two straight after losing its last five at the Hornets.

The Jazz enter tonight’s contest on a four-game winning streak. Carlos Boozer netted 25 and grabbed 13 rebounds, as Utah defeated the Denver Nuggets, 104-83, on Wednesday at the Delta Center.

Mehmet Okur contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Denver for the Jazz, who have won seven of their last nine games overall. Andrei Kirilenko and rookie Deron Williams both scored 14 in the victory.

Utah, which starts a three-game road trip, is 18-20 on the road this season. The Jazz will visit Dallas on Saturday and San Antonio on Sunday.

The Hornets attempt to make it two straight wins. On Wednesday, rookie phenom Chris Paul scored 21 points and dished out six assists to lead New Orleans/Oklahoma City to a 104-99 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics at the Ford Center.

Marc Jackson added 17 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Seattle for the Hornets, who have won three of their last five games overall. Desmond Mason also notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, while Speedy Claxton and Kirk Snyder both netted 10 in the victory.

New Orleans/Oklahoma City is 24-16 as the host this season. After tonight’s game, the Hornets embark on a season-ending road trip at Sacramento, Phoenix and the Lakers.