Jazz, Lakers try to get back on winning track

This is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the clubs. The teams split a pair of contests at the Delta Center, while the Jazz beat the Lakers, 98-94, on January 1st at the Staples Center.

Utah has won two straight and three of the last four meetings in this series. The Jazz have won two of their last three at the Lakers.

The Jazz play the finale of a three-game road trip. On Saturday, Yao Ming finished with 27 points, as the Houston Rockets defeated Utah, 102-88, at the Toyota Center.

Milt Palacio equaled a career-high with 20 points in the loss to the Rockets for Utah, which had a two-game winning streak halted. Mehmet Okur ended with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Andrei Kirilenko and Devin Brown both netted 11 in defeat.

This is Utah’s final game before the All-Star break. The Jazz are 12-14 on the road this season, and have dropped five of their last six as the visitor.

The Lakers play the second of a five-game homestand. Chucky Atkins scored 18 points and burned his old team by making a free throw with three seconds left, to boost the Memphis Grizzlies to a 100-99 victory over the Lakers on Saturday at the Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant tallied 26 points, but couldn’t get off a last-second shot, as Los Angeles has lost five of its last six contests overall. Smush Parker ended with 20 points, while Kwame Brown tied a season-best with 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds in defeat.

Bryant has scored more than 20 points in 30 straight games. He is averaging 36.8 points per contest in his last 10 outings.

The Lakers are 12-9 as the host this season. They will host the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday in their final contest before the All-Star break. LA will also play Portland and Sacramento on the current stand.