Jazz have what it takes to hold on in Northwest Division

The Jazz are 2-0 against Denver this season. The Nuggets are scheduled to host the Jazz on February 23rd at the Pepsi Center, while Utah will welcome Denver to EnergySolutions Arena on April 11th in the final meeting of the campaign between the clubs.

All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, who did not play in Sunday’s All-Star Game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, is still sidelined with a hairline fracture in his left leg. Boozer, who was injured on January 27th against the Hornets, leads the Jazz in scoring (22.1 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rpg). He has recorded 33 double-doubles and has scored in double-digits in 41 times this season.

Utah is 6-1 without Boozer.

The Jazz try to continue their excellent season, as they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday at the Rose Garden. It is the first game back for both teams since the All-Star break.

Portland and the Jazz battle in the second of four meetings this season. On December 30th, Mehmet Okur scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Utah to a 96-86 home victory over the Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers have lost five straight and 10 of their last 11 at Utah. The Jazz have won five in a row in the series. Portland will host Jazz on April 4th and will visit Utah on April 16th.

Utah enters Tuesday’s contest on a six-game winning streak. On February 14th, Deron Williams scored a career-high 33 points and had 12 assists as the Jazz defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-98, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Okur, who played in his first All-Star Game on Sunday, finished with 22 points in the win over Cleveland for the Jazz, while Andrei Kirilenko added 10 for Utah, which has won 11 of its last 14 games overall.

The Jazz are a respectable 14-11 on the road this season. They will visit Anthony and the Nuggets on Friday at the Pepsi Center.