Utah (3-1) at New Jersey (2-2), 7:30 pm EST
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz will
attempt to become the first team in the Western Conference to
reach four wins when they take on the New Jersey Nets on
Wednesday.
One of the surprise teams early, the Jazz have won their first
two games on the road, including a 95-91 win at Charlotte on
Monday.
Mehmet Okur continued a strong start with a career-high 31
points on 11-of-17 shooting. Andrei Kirilenko added 20 points
and blocked seven shots for Utah, which is looking to start 4-1
for the second straight season.
Okur has been the catalyst for the Jazz, averaging 27 points and
9.7 rebounds in their three wins. He was limited to 13 points
in a 97-88 loss to Phoenix on Saturday.
The Nets will be trying to rebound from a difficult 90-89
setback at Miami on Monday in which controversy shrouded the
finish.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade was fouled by Jason Kidd with 5.2 seconds
left, a questionable call that drew an argument from New
Jersey. Wade made one free throw to give the Heat the lead,
then blocked Vince Carter's potential game-winning layup at the
buzzer to seal it, a non-call that could have gone either way.
Carter scored 32 points on 14-of-21 shooting and Richard
Jefferson added 20 points and 15 boards for the Nets, who have
won the last three meetings with the Jazz but historically have
been dominated in the series.
Prior to its three-game losing streak to New Jersey, Utah had
won 16 of 17 meetings and eight straight here.





