
As much as they talked about being a better road team this season, the Jazz hit rock bottom Wednesday night in being embarrassed 114-93 by the NBA-worst Thunder to open a three-game trip.
Now the Jazz face a must-win game Friday at Memphis, not only to try to snap a five-game road losing streak but to show that another season won't be defined by continued struggles on the road. The Jazz are now 7-12 on the road this season and 12 games under .500 on the road the last two seasons, after going 17-24 last season. Already this season, the Jazz have lost on the road to Washington and Oklahoma City, the worst team in each conference.
"We're just not getting it done on the road," Kyle Korver said. "Something has to change. Mental approach, I don't know what it is exactly, but it's something we've got to figure out soon."
The Jazz's road woes are even more glaring given their home record. They are 16-4 at home this season and went a league-best 37-4 in 2007-08. With only three more road victories, the Jazz could have been the Western Conference's top playoff seed.
Deron Williams questioned whether the Jazz had become discouraged given the number of injuries they've had to overcome. They played Wednesday without Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles, as well as Carlos Boozer, who has been out since Nov. 19.
"We're right there, we're right there," Williams said. "We're a good team. We're only a couple games back of second place. We've just got to keep fighting, keep finding ways to win."
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, might be the right opponent at the right time for the Jazz. They've beaten Memphis seven consecutive times, including twice this season, and have won five straight at FedEx Forum.
THUNDER 114, JAZZ 93: After falling behind by 10 points in the first quarter, the Jazz were given a reprieve as they fought back to tie the game just before halftime. But the Jazz couldn't even take advantage of a second chance to beat the NBA's worst team, giving up 36 points in the third quarter and trailing by 17. Deron Williams led the Jazz with 25 points but Mehmet Okur, Ronnie Brewer and Ronnie Price all came up small in starting roles. The Thunder came into the game a league-worst 6-33.