Utah Jazz Team Report - February 14

(Basketball News) - The Utah Jazz visit the Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns on Monday at America West Arena. Phoenix has won two of three meetings between these teams this season, but Utah won the most recent meeting, 115-108, on January 12 at the Delta Center. The Jazz have actually won nine of the last 13 meetings, including four of their last six trips to Phoenix

Utah has split its last four games, including a 100-82 victory over Minnesota at the Delta Center on Friday. Carlos Boozer had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points and 10 boards to pace the Jazz to the win.

Raja Bell tallied 18 points for the Jazz, who overcame a 10-point second quarter with 34 points in the third to end a two-game slide. Raul Lopez registered 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Utah, which won for just the second time in seven outings. Mehmet Okur added 14 points and 12 boards in the win.

The Jazz shot 47 percent from the field in the win, including 5-of-8 (.625) from three-point range. Utah also hit 13-of-19 (.684) from the free throw line, while dominating the T’Wolves, 47-32, in the win.

Utah, which is playing the first of a two-night road trip that will conclude in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Tuesday, is just 6-19 in foreign buildings this season. The Jazz have dropped three straight and nine of their last 10 road tilts. After Tuesday night’s game, the Jazz have seven full days off because of the All-Star break.

Head coach Jerry Sloan is one win (934) shy of Dick Motta for seventh place on the all-time list. He should pass Red Auerbach (938) for sixth and has a chance to catch Bill Fitch (944) for fifth by the end of this season.

Boozer has scored in double-digits just twice in his last six games. He is averaging just 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in that span, which is well below his season averages of 17.9 points and 9.0 boards per game.

The Jazz will not have a representative in this year’s All-Star Game. Kirilenko played in the contest last season.