Jazz and Suns square off at America West Arena

Utah’s latest loss came on Tuesday, as it was routed 119-83 by the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena. Milt Palacio led the Jazz with 19 points off the bench and Deron Williams added 12 but no other player reached double figures for Utah, which has lost four of five.

Center Mehmet Okur, who leads the team with 19.4 points-per-game, managed just five points on 2-of-6 shooting in nearly 22 minutes. The 6-foot-11 Okur has totaled just 17 points in his last two games after recording 62 in the two games prior to that stretch.

Utah, which will return home for two games following tonight’s contest, is 3-3 away from home this season.

Phoenix, meanwhile, comes into tonight’s contest on a sour note as well after falling at home, 115-103, to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Shawn Marion had 23 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Suns, who have lost three of their last four contests. Steve Nash added 17 points and 13 assists, and Leandro Barbosa scored 17 for Phoenix.

Marion has posted a double-double in every game this season

The Suns closed within nine points twice, the last time at 107-98 on an alley- oop jam from Marion off a feed from Nash with 3:21 remaining in the fourth. However, Damon Stoudamire scored the next eight points with a 23-foot jumper and two shots from beyond the arc to seal the victory.

Phoenix, which will head to San Antonio tomorrow, is 1-4 in its building this season.

The Suns defeated Utah earlier in the season and has won five of the last six meetings. The Jazz have also lost two straight in Phoenix.