New Orleans ? As much as they've struggled on the road this season, the challenge for the Jazz after losing Friday at home to the lottery-bound Minnesota Timberwolves simply was trying to find hope for this week's three-game trip.
The Jazz will play New Orleans, Dallas and San Antonio having dropped all 11 games they've played on the road against the Western Conference's eight other playoff contenders and fighting to stay ahead of the eighth-place Mavericks. "We've got to stay together," Carlos Boozer said. "We've got to believe in each other again, we've got to fight for each other, we've got to fight for our team. We're not even in the playoffs yet. We're talking about climbing up, we've still got to get in."
A loss to the Hornets would leave the Jazz with a four-game losing streak, matching their longest this season. They have dropped three consecutive road games as well, to Phoenix, Portland and Denver.
The Hornets sit in sixth place with a 11/2-game lead over the Jazz, even after losing Friday at Golden State.
Most alarming to assistant Phil Johnson , who filled in Friday for coach Jerry Sloan , who is expected to return tonight, was allowing Minnesota to shoot 53.3 percent and blowing a big lead for the third consecutive home game.
The Jazz owned a 15-point lead over the Timberwolves in the second quarter, after leading Phoenix by 21 points and New York by 24 points in the second half of their previous two victories at EnergySolutions Arena.
"You can't keep playing that way and letting teams back in the game and not have it come up and bite you sooner or later," Johnson said.
?
Get a grip
Before he missed a potential winning jumper on the Jazz's final shot Friday, Deron Williams had his jersey grabbed by Kevin Ollie as he tried to get free on an inbounds play. Such calls are a point of emphasis for NBA referees this season.
Ollie wasn't called for the jersey grab, and Williams thought he was fouled by both Ollie and Mike Miller on his shot with no whistle blown.
"It's a tough position for a ref to be in," Williams said. "You don't want to have to decide a game, but at the same time, if it's a foul, it's a foul."
rsiler@sltrib.com Jazz at Hornets
At New Orleans Arena
Time ? Today, 5 p.m.
TV ? FSN Utah
Radio ? 1320 AM, 98.7 FM
Records ? Jazz 46-30, New Orleans 47-28
Last meeting ? Jazz won 102-88 (Feb. 21)
Line ? Hornets by 51/2
About the Jazz ? They make their first trip to New Orleans this season having already won the three-game season series with two victories in Utah. ... Carlos Boozer will try to regain his rhythm after going a combined 8-for-32 against Denver and Minnesota.
About the Hornets ? They went 2-1 on trip to play Sacramento, the L.A. Clippers and Golden State. ... Chris Paul matched his career high with 43 points against the Warriors and was named Western Conference Player of the Month for March. Paul averaged 24.2 points, 10.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals as the Hornets went 11-5 for the month.
