LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz try to win consecutive games for the first time this season when they visit the Staples Center to face the red-hot Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Utah's early-season struggles have prompted strife within the team as well as rumors that star forward Karl Malone will be traded to the Dallas Mavericks. However, the rumors seem to be just that and thing are slowly turning around.

After winning just four of their first 12 games, the Jazz have won three of their last six and posted a 104-100 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at the Delta Center on Tuesday.

Malone scored 22 points and John Stockton added 19 as Utah rallied from two-fourth quarter defecits. The duo combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter, proving that they can still propel the team to victory.

Rookie Andrei Kirilenko recorded season highs with 19 points and five blocks to go with seven rebounds. Kirilenko has seen increased playing time due to the absence of forward Donyell Marshall, who has missed the last two games with a strained groin.

Utah is just 2-5 on the road and has lost its last two games away from the Delta Center. The Jazz are 3-7 against Western Conference foes, but defeated Los Angeles, 106-101, in Salt Lake City on November 23.

But the Clippers are 4-1 since that loss and have won four straight at the Staples Center. They are 2-0 on a six-game homestand and got back to .500 with an 89-83 victory over the lowly Miami Heat on Tuesday.

Elton Brand had 23 points and 17 rebounds and Lamar Odom dominated the final minutes, scoring the game-tying basket and a three-point play that put Los Angeles ahead for good.

Odom finished with 13 points and six rebounds and Quentin Richardson had 19 and eight off the bench.

The Clippers are 4-7 against the Western Conference, including a 4-2 mark at home. They have lost five straight home meetings with Utah dating to March 27, 1999 at the Pond in Anaheim.