The wrist injury that hampered him earlier this season has healed such that Kyle Korver can stay late after practice to shoot or come back to the gym at night for more work. It's part of the path that Korver sees out of his current slump.
In the Jazz's first two games back from the All-Star break, Korver has made only 2 of 16 shots and 1 of 9 three-pointers. He's now shooting 41.4 percent overall and 35.6 percent of his three-pointers this season. "It's been frustrating this last week, but it'll come around," Korver said. "I'm not worried about it. I've been in slumps before. I just need a couple to fall. A couple to fall, and it'll start rolling. When it rains, it pours. Soon."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan went with Korver the entire fourth quarter of Thursday's victory over Boston despite his struggles. "One thing about it, they go out there deep to guard him, and that helps us in a lot of ways," Sloan said.
"Hopefully, he'll work out of it," Sloan added. "He's had a tough time making shots. I think he's trying to make a three-pointer every time he gets the ball, and when you get into that, that puts a lot of pressure on you if you don't make it."
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No contact
As of Friday afternoon, Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor had not called to express interest in free-agent center Mikki Moore , according to Moore's agent, Mark Bartelstein .
Moore, who was bought out Thursday and released by Sacramento, played with the Jazz in 2003-04. Bartelstein said 10 teams already had called to express interest in Moore.
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Four of a kind
With Thursday's victory, the Jazz joined Indiana, San Antonio and Charlotte as the only teams to beat both Boston and the L.A. Lakers this season. The Jazz's two victories over last season's NBA Finals participants came in a span of nine days.
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Getting defensive
For the second time this season, Matt Harpring succeeded in frustrating one of the NBA's star players. He did it Thursday against Boston's Paul Pierce , who went 2-for-9 in the fourth quarter and was called for an offensive foul after hitting Harpring in the face.
"Usually superstars in this league, they play pretty comfortable out there, and if you make them uncomfortable and try to make them do things, they don't like it too much," said Harpring, who had previous success against LeBron James .
The Celtics worked the ball to Pierce three times in the final 2? minutes, but Pierce settled for jumpers and missed all three shots.
"Matt had wore him out, I think, pretty good to that point in that fourth quarter," Williams said. "We switched me on him a couple times and he was kind of gassed and didn't really get a good shot off."
rsiler@sltrib.com Jazz vs. New Orleans
At EnergySolutions Arena
Tipoff ? 7 p.m.
TV ? KJZZ
Radio ? 1320 AM, 98.7 FM
Records ? Jazz 32-23, New Orleans XX-XX
Last meeting ? Jazz, 116-90 (Jan. 7)
Line ? Jazz by 6
About the Jazz ? Because they play New Orleans only three times, the Jazz can claim the season series with a victory tonight. ? Deron Williams is 9-2 head-to-head against Chris Paul in their NBA careers, though Williams posted only eight points and eight assists while battling a sinus infection in their first meeting last month.
About the Hornets ? For the second time this season, New Orleans arrives in Utah to play the second game of a back-to-back set after facing the Lakers the night before in Los Angeles. ? The Hornets have lost by 28, 22 and 26 points at EnergySolutions Arena the last two seasons. ? Tyson Chandler remained in New Orleans after Oklahoma City rescinded its trade for him this week, citing a failed physical.
