(My Sportsbook) - The injury-riddled Utah Jazz are back at home for two straight games, starting with Monday's tilt versus the
Phoenix Suns at EnergySolutions Arena.
Utah opened the 2008-09 season with five straight wins, then went 1-4 on a five-game road trip, losing the last three contests of the swing. In Saturday's 105-93 setback to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Carlos Boozer finished with 7 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Paul Millsap chipped in 15 points off the bench while C.J. Miles and Ronnie Price ended with 12 points apiece. Utah will also host the Milwaukee Bucks on the short homestand and is 4-0 in Salt Lake City this season.
The Jazz have been without guard Deron Williams (ankle), forward Andrei Kirilenko (finger) and center Mehmet Okur (personal). Okur is out indefinitely and both Williams and Kirilenko are questionable for Monday. Utah forward Matt Harpring (ankle) is also questionable versus the Suns.
Phoenix has won two in a row and four of six games, including Sunday's 104-86 win over Allen Iverson and the Detroit Pistons at US Airways Center.
Amare Stoudemire scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Steve Nash returned from a one-game suspension to post 17 points and seven assists. Nash was penalized one game for his involvement in an altercation with Houston last Wednesday. Shaquille O'Neal was ejected for a flagrant foul two in the second quarter and netted 12 points.
Suns forward Matt Barnes, who was suspended for two games for being involved in Wednesday's melee with the Rockets, did not play yesterday. He is eligible to return for this evening's contest in Utah.
Phoenix is 5-1 as the guest in 2008-09.
The Jazz won two of three meetings with Phoenix a year ago and are 6-2 in the past eight matchups in this series.
These two teams have split the previous eight games in Salt Lake City.