Jazz focus on final road games News Utah Jazz

At 14-21 on the road following Wednesday night's loss at Phoenix, and with just six away games left in the regular season, the Jazz are now guaranteed to have their eighth straight season with a losing record when not playing in Utah. Not since they went 25-16 in the 2000-01 season have they had a winning road record. But with the NBA Western Conference standings as tight as they are, the Jazz feel the half-dozen away games that remain in their 2008-09 season are as important as ever. "We have a lot of tough games, tough road games, where we've got to try to find ways to win," point guard Deron Williams said with reference to Utah's final 21/2 weeks of the regular season, which includes visits to Portland, Denver, New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Lakers.

"This was one we let slip away," William added with reference to a 118-114 loss to the Suns in a game that was tied with just 32 seconds to go before Grant Hill hit the game-winner and Jazz center Mehmet Okur missed two desperation attempts after that. "It was right there in our grasp." Sloan suggested he hopes his club plays less selfishly than it did Wednesday over the course of its final 11 games of the season, especially when it comes to those on the road ? all of which, by the way, are against Western Conference playoff contenders. "We have to figure out some way to win, and it can't be about 'I've got to do it,' " he said. "That's the worst thing you can have happen, and I thought we had some of that (Wednesday)." KOUFOS TO FLASH, FESENKO BACK: The Jazz on Thursday assigned rookie big man Kosta Koufos to the Utah Flash, their Orem-based affiliate in the NBA Development League. The Jazz also recalled center Kyrylo Fesenko from the Flash, as they're allowed to have no more than two D-League assignees at the same time ? and shooting guard Morris Almond is with the minor-league team as well. It's the first assignment to the Flash for the 7-foot-1 Koufos, who ? partly because teammates have been healthy, often leaving no room for him on the club's 12-man active roster ? hasn't played since Feb. 17. The 20-year-old first-round draft choice from Ohio State saw often erratic but sometimes significant playing time when the Jazz were dealing with health issues earlier this season and has averaged 4.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in his first 48 NBA games. The 7-1 Fesenko has averaged 2.4 points, 1.8 boards and 0.8 blocks in 18 games for the Jazz as a second-year NBA pro in 2008-09 and has averaged 12.2 points and 8.5 rebounds over 14 games and two stints for the Flash this season. As long as he is employed by an NBA team, Fesenko is eligible for just one more D-League assignment. The Flash have 10 games remaining, including home dates Friday night and Saturday night vs. Anaheim. Their regular season ends at home, April 11 against Idaho. PLANE PROBLEM: The Jazz unexpectedly wound up having to stay overnight in Phoenix. They cleared security, but because of mechanical problems never did board their charter plane Wednesday night. The team was able to leave Phoenix and return to Salt Lake City late Thursday morning. The Jazz will practice this morning, and don't play again until facing the Suns at home on Saturday night. E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com