The graphic at left (click to enlarge) compares how the Sonics record in the 2004-05 season compares to the Jazz's record at the same point this year. The Sonics held a slight advantage most of the season, but the Jazz is now catching up. Utah needs to go 4-3 the rest of the way to match the 52-30 record of the 2004-05 Sonics.

The comparisons go beyond the overall records of the two teams. Like the Sonics, the Jazz has surged forward after a run in the lottery (three years for the Jazz, just two for the Sonics). Both teams were better on offense than defense (though the Sonics were much more offensive-biased than Utah) and outperformed their point differential. Both teams relied heavily on contributions from their bench.

WEST ELITE

Team Record Utah 8-4 Dallas 8-5 San Antonio 7-7 Phoenix 6-7 Houston 4-10

The most striking similarity between the 2004-05 Sonics and the 2006-07 Jazz is their incredible performance against elite teams. That Sonics squad split four games with San Antonio, played even with Phoenix, swept Miami and split with Detroit. This Utah team has been even better. Against the other four top teams in the Western Conference (Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio and Houston), the Jazz is 8-4. As the chart at right shows, Utah has a better record within the group than any of the other top teams.

Both the Sonics and the Jazz were hit by injuries to their starting point guards in losses last night. Luke Ridnour's season is likely over following a lateral sprain of his left ankle against the Lakers. Deron Williams is questionable for tonight's game with a strained left groin that forced him to miss the second half as the Kings came back against Utah in Sacramento. Forward Andrei Kirilenko also left the game with a thumb injury that he was to have X-rayed today.

Both teams have veteran backups in Derek Fisher and Earl Watson, but their depth will be tested as they go deeper. Sonics Coach Bob Hill played Watson the entire second half against the Lakers and he seemed to wear down in the final period. Fisher has been starting at shooting guard for Utah, and the third-string point guard is Dee Brown, who has struggled during his rookie season.

KEY MATCHUP
	The heir to Karl Malone at power forward for the Jazz, Carlos Boozer has had a career year that culminated in an All-Star selection after his first two seasons in Utah were marked by injuries. Boozer is averaging 21.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, both career highs. Boozer is fourth in the league in rebounding and sixth in field-goal percentage (56.1%). Boozer has been very good against the Sonics, averaging 23.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in three matchups. Chris Wilcox has countered with 10.7 points and 7.7 rebounds head-to-head. Wilcox is coming off a career-high 32 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Wilcox got to the free-throw line 16 times, also a career high.

On Jan. 12, Ray Allen would not be beaten. The Sonics guard put together the highest-scoring game of his illustrious career and the second-best scoring night in franchise history, scoring 54 points against the Jazz. The Sonics needed all 54, using an Allen three-pointer with eight seconds left to send the game to overtime and outscoring the Jazz 16-8 in the extra session to win 122-114, snapping a six-game losing streak. Allen played just four minutes in the first quarter, picking up two quick fouls, but heated up late in the first half, scoring 17 points in the second quarter. Allen had 18 in the fourth quarter as the Sonics rallied from a deficit as large as 10, outscoring Utah 13-4 over the last 2:30 with nine points from Allen. Allen shot 17-for-32 from the field (tying and surpassing his career highs), 12-for-12 from the free-throw line and 8-for-12 from three-point range to become the fifth player in franchise history to hit the 50-point mark.

Allen wasn't the only hero for the Sonics. Watson was on the other end of most of the passes that Allen converted, finishing with a career-high 16 assists. Watson added 10 points for his second double-double in a Sonics uniform. Nick Collison had his second double-double in three games, scoring 25 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. It's Collison's third straight game with 20 or more points. Boozer led Utah with 32 points and 16 boards.

Today's Kia Surprising Stat - Only two players 6-11 or taller in NBA history have made more three-pointers in a season than Mehmet Okur (119). Rasheed Wallace (155) holds the record amongst this group, while Dirk Nowitzki has made as many as 151 in a season.

View From Afar:

Jazz.com

Salt Lake Tribune

Tribune: Jazz Notes

Deseret Morning News

All That Jazz

INJURIES

Sonics - Guards Ray Allen (bone spur, left ankle) and Luke Ridnour (lateral sprain, left ankle) and center Robert Swift (torn right ACL) are out.

Utah - Guard Deron Williams (strained left groin) is questionable. Forward Andrei Kirilenko (left thumb injury) is doubtful.

For more analysis before tonight's game, listen to the Sonics Pregame Show starting at 5:30 on KTTH 770 AM and Sonics Radio Network stations.