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AP photoSALT LAKE CITY -- Having wrapped up a long four-game road stretch with a perfect tally, the Jazz will return to EnergySolutions Arena Monday to go head-to-head with the Atlanta Hawks.
While the Jazz celebrated Sunday night after coming from behind to claim a narrow four-point overtime win in Portland, the Hawks were dealing with a different emotion after giving up a four-point loss to the Golden State Warriors. Utah's win came after overcoming a 25-point deficit, while the Hawks gave up an 18-point lead in their unusual loss to the second-worst team in the Western Conference.
KSL takes a look back and ahead as we prep for the game against the Hawks.
Game 56Utah Jazz (36-19)
vs Atlanta Hawks (34-20)
Date: Monday, February 22, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Site: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: FSN Utah: Comcast - Ch. 52 (HD Ch. 693); DIRECTV - Ch. 684 (HD Ch. 684-1); DISH - Ch. 445 (HD Ch. 9515)
Radio: 1320 AM KFAN or 98.7 FM
Season Series Record: Hawks 1, Jazz 0
Last Meeting: 12/18/09 - ATL 96, UTA 83
- The Jazz struggled for two and a half quarters to get into any kind of rhythm against the Blazers, but finally found their answer late in the third quarter as Carlos Boozer went to work. Boozer ended the night with 22 points and 23 rebounds, setting a new career high on the boards and hitting a last second put-back shot to send the game into overtime.
- Boozer had his work cut out for him late in the game and all throughout overtime, as the Jazz were still without Mehmet Okur, and Paul Millsap and Andrei Kirilenko had left the game. Millsap was tagged with his sixth foul late in the fourth and Kirilenko had been watching the game from the locker room since the first half when he began suffering back spasms. Without almost every option they normally have down low, Boozer took over in the paint and produced several clutch plays that led to Utah's 93-89 win.
- Utah's road win marked their seventh straight and their fourth straight victory since returning from the All-Star break. The No. 3 Jazz remain a half game behind Denver in the Western Conference standings, as the Nuggets also claimed a win Sunday over the Celtics.
What can the Jazz expect from the Hawks?
- The Hawks have lost two in a row and are likely anxious to end the drought as soon as possible and keep a hold of a playoff seat. Atlanta is currently sitting at fourth in the Eastern Conference and has tallied a 34-20 overall record, just a few games behind Utah's 36-19 mark.
- Joe Johnson put out a solid 31-point performance Sunday, while Al Horford added 26 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta, but as the Warriors caught fire and began digging out of their 18-point hole, the Hawks were unable to stop the run. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis posted 32 and 26 points, respectively, to lead Golden State in their slim home victory.
- In their first meeting of the season with the Hawks, the Jazz suffered a tough 96-83 loss in Atlanta Dec. 18. Kirilenko was Utah's high scorer with 13 points, while Wesley Matthews and former Jazz man Eric Maynor added 11 each. Matthews was Utah's only starter that reached double-figure scoring, as Boozer and Deron Williams combined for a low eight points in the loss. While the Jazz struggled, the Hawks' game came easy as they saw four starters and one reserve tally 12 or more points a piece.
Probable Jazz starting lineup
- C - Mehmet Okur, 6-11, 273 lbs., Turkey
- PF - Carlos Boozer, 6-9, 260 lbs., Duke
- SF - Andrei Kirilenko, 6-9, 235 lbs., Russia
- SG - Wesley Matthews, 6-5, 220 lbs., Marquette
- PG - Deron Williams, 6-3, 207 lbs., Illinois
Probable Hawks starting lineup
- C - Al Horford, 6-11, 235 lbs., Massachusetts
- PF - Josh Smith, 6-9, 240 lbs., Oak Hill Academy (VA)
- SF - Marvin Williams, 6-9, 240 lbs., North Carolina
- SG - Joe Johnson, 6-7, 240 lbs., Arkansas
- PG - Mike Bibby, 6-2, 195 lbs., Arizona
Hawks leaders
Joe Johnson, 21.5 ppg, 4.7 apg / Jamal Crawford, 17.6 ppg, 2.9 apg
Jazz Injury Updates
- Andrei Kirilenko - (back spasms) Game time decision
- Mehmet Okur - (personal) Expected to play
Hawks Injury Updates
- No injuries reported
Conclusion
With their recent climb in the NBA.com power rankings, the Jazz moved ahead of the Cavaliers and Lakers to claim the No. 1 spot after their perfect 4-0 performance on the road. Utah is doing just about everything right at this point in the season, and as they head into the month of March when the large majority of their games will be played away from Salt Lake City, their success on the road couldn't have come at a better time.
The Hawks have had a long drought when playing in Utah, and haven't claimed a win at the home of the Jazz since 1993.
