(Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz will try to halt a three-game losing streak
on Friday night when they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats to EnergySolutions
Arena.
The last two losses for the Jazz came at home, where they've been a dependable
team all season. Utah was 21-6 prior to setbacks to the Boston Celtics and
Atlanta Hawks this week.
The Atlanta game was decided in the start of the third quarter. The Jazz
managed just one field goal over six-plus minutes after the half and the Hawks
doubled an eight-point halftime lead.
"We have to get better coming out of halftime. This is the third game in a
row," said Jazz coach Ty Corbin. "We have to find a way to figure it out. We
can't be down in a hole like that every night."
The Jazz, who were without starting forward Paul Millsap, fell 102-91 and lost
back-to-back home games for the first time since December.
Millsap is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle. Al Jefferson, who
had 26 points and 11 rebounds against the Hawks, also hurt his left ankle is
day-to-day as well.
Derrick Favors, who started in place of Millsap, scored 17 points and hauled
in 15 boards.
The Bobcats are mired in a four-game losing streak, although only one came on
the road. They began a four-game western trip with a 106-84 loss to the Los
Angeles Clippers.
Charlotte led by six after the first quarter, but midway through the second,
the Clips unleashed hell. L.A. won the period 30-15 and never looked back en
route to victory.
"For 20 minutes we played fantastic basketball," Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap
said. "We had the lead, but we made some turnovers that they made some dunks
off of, and that brought the crowd into the game. That ignited them and it
carried over into the second half."
Gerald Henderson matched a season-high with 24 points and Kemba Walker added
14 points. Byron Mullens had 13, Ramon Sessions 11 and newcomer Josh McRoberts
chipped in 10 on 2-for-2 3-point shooting.
Rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went scoreless in almost 22 minutes. Not only
did MKG get held without a point, he only handed out two assists and grabbed
one rebound.
The Bobcats went 2-10 in February and only managed 100 points in just one
game.
The Jazz have won seven straight against the Bobcats, including a 112-102
victory in Charlotte on Jan. 9. The Bobcats haven't won in Salt Lake City
since March 1, 2006, coming up short in five straight there.
The Sports Network