Jazz at Hornets
THE STORY: The Utah Jazz are the lucky NBA team that gets to play on
three straight nights this week. After getting behind Al Jefferson and
playing stingy defense to take the opener at Memphis, the Jazz will hope
for an easy time at New Orleans on Monday before capping the stretch at
the NBA-best Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The Hornets have not
been a challenge for most teams this season and are on an eight-game
losing streak. New Orleans has been outscored by an average of 13.3
points during the skid.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Jazz), CST (Hornets)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (14-12):
Sunday’s 98-88 triumph was only the second in the last seven games for
Utah, which has allowed an average of 106 points in the last five
setbacks. When the defense shows up, as it did in forcing 18 turnovers
Sunday, the Jazz are a much stronger team. In its 14 victories, Utah is
allowing 90.2 points. In the 12 losses, that number jumps to 104.8. The
Jazz allowed only 16 points in the fourth quarter on Jan. 2, coming from
behind to claim a 94-90 victory over New Orleans.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (4-23):
Only the hapless Charlotte Bobcats keep New Orleans from owning the
worst record in the NBA. Utah marks the last home game for the Hornets
before a six-game road trip that will take them through Oklahoma City,
Indiana and Chicago among others. New Orleans has had a lead in five of
its last six games but does not have the go-to scorer capable of closing
out games. The Hornets are also dealing with a short bench and were
without five rotation players - Eric Gordon, Carl Landry, Jason Smith,
Chris Kaman and Jarrett Jack - in Friday’s 94-86 loss to Portland.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Utah won at New Orleans 90-78 last April and has won in four of its last five trips to the Crescent City.
2.
Kaman (ankle) and Smith (concussion) are day-to-day but the rest of the
Hornets’ walking wounded are already ruled out for Monday.
3. Jefferson has averaged 14.9 points and 9.2 rebounds in 21 career games against New Orleans.