(My Sportsbook) - You can bet the Utah Jazz are happy to return to the cozy confines of EnergySolutions Arena Tuesday as they welcome the hapless
Washington Wizards to town.
The Jazz are one of the NBA's best home teams but still struggle mightily on the road. It looked as if the club might have turned a corner after it won the first two games of its recent five-game road swing but things quickly went south from there as Utah dropped its third straight to end the trip on Sunday in Orlando.
Dwight Howard dominated the post to the tune of 28 points and 20 rebounds in that one, as the Magic coasted to a 105-87 wire-to-wire victory over the Jazz.
Carlos Boozer recorded 23 points and 13 boards for the Jazz, who have lost three straight following a 12-game winning streak. Deron Williams finished with 11 points and nine assists, while Mehmet Okur missed all seven of his field goal attempts in the setback.
Utah was coming off a tough three-overtime loss to Miami on Saturday, and the Jazz's fatigue showed throughout.
The Jazz, who are now 1 1/2 games behind Denver in the Northwest Division, are just 13-20 on the road but are a gaudy 28-6 in Salt Lake City. Utah has won 11 straight at EnergySolutions Arena since a 106-100 loss to San Antonio on January 27.
Williams (contusion of left fibula head area) and Okur (mild inversion sprain, right ankle) will both be gametime decisions for tonight's contest.
The Wizards, meanwhile, salvaged the finale of a three-game homestand on Sunday when Antawn Jamison poured in a game-high 30 points and nine rebounds, as Washington outlasted the Sacramento Kings, 106-104, in a battle between two of the worst teams in the NBA.
Andray Blatche added 16 points and six rebounds for the Wizards. Darius Songaila finished with 15 points, and Nick Young ended with 12 points off the bench.
Washington was without the services of forward Caron Butler. Butler exited in the first half of the Wizards' 112-103 defeat to Orlando on Friday with a hamstring injury and did not return in the second half. He is listed as doubtful for tonight.
The Wizards, who are a dismal 5-27 on the road, will also visit the LA Clippers, Denver and Phoenix on a four-game west coast road swing.