After a 104-99 loss at home to Sacramento, the Jazz open a four-game road trip on Monday at New York. The Jazz, who went only 15-26 on the road last season, are 0-2 so far after losses at Denver and Dallas. Against the Mavericks, Utah blew a 16-point lead in the final 10 minutes and lost, 95-85. More bad news for the Jazz?
They have lost five straight games at Madison Square Garden, going back to Feb. 20, 2004. Included in the losing streak are an overtime defeat (97-96) and another one-pointer (94-93).
After losing to the Kings, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan doesn't know what to expect as his team embarks on a trip that also takes the Jazz to Boston, Philadelphia and Cleveland.
"I don't have that kind of ability," Sloan said. "If I did, I
probably wouldn't be here. ... The only thing I know to do is fight back. It's a long season and we'll see what happens."
KINGS 104, JAZZ 99: Rookie Tyreke Evans shredded Utah's defense for a
career-high 32 points and the Kings won in Salt Lake City for the first time in nearly three years. Deron Williams had 29 points and 15 assists for the Jazz, who led by 15 early in the second quarter. Sacramento's switch to a zone defense helped turn things around,
however, and the Kings outscored the Jazz 66-38 over the second and third quarters.
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