Utah Jazz Team Report - December 23

(Basketball News) - The Utah Jazz continued to struggle on Wednesday, as they dropped a 99-86 decision to the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

Carlos Boozer recorded a game-high 29 points to go with 10 rebounds for the Jazz, losers in eight of their last nine contests on the road. Matt Harpring chipped in 14 points while Mehmet Okur collected 11 points and 15 boards.

Toronto’s lead grew to 18 early in the third period, but it quickly evaporated courtesy of an 18-5 surge by the Jazz. Boozer had 12 of his team’s points during the rally that got Utah within five at 65-60 with just over three minutes to play in the third.

Okur’s basket in the final 30 seconds of the third made it a two-point game, but Lamond Murray’s dunk just over four minutes into the fourth capped a string of eight consecutive Toronto points.

Utah once again closed within three with under four minutes remaining before Donyell Marshall knocked down a key three-pointer to extend the lead to 84-77.

Marshall drained another trey two minutes later to make it 89-80, and the Raptors were able to hold on the rest of the way.

Utah returns to action on Monday versus the Seattle SuperSonics.