It took 57 games and more than 4 1/2 months, but the Jazz could finally claim to be at full strength in Monday's victory over Atlanta. Carlos Boozer returned after missing 44 games with an injured left knee, and the Jazz blew away the Hawks.
The Jazz have lost 140 games to injury this season and used 15 different starting lineups, but there is finally reason for optimism. Utah has won eight of nine games in February while welcoming back Andrei Kirilenko and Boozer in the last eight days. Not only have the Jazz equaled their season best with a five-game winning streak, they have pulled into a tie with Dallas for sixth in the Western Conference standings. No longer is their only goal to simply make the playoffs in an injury-ravaged season.
The Jazz shot 70.7 percent in the first half Monday, watched their bench players score 58 points and led by as many as 26 points in the fourth quarter.
The challenge, however, will be to take the momentum they have built at home on the road. The Jazz have gone 9-17 away from EnergySolutions Arena this season and will travel to face Minnesota on Wednesday.
Considering the schedule the rest of the season, Wednesday's game will be a good test. The Jazz will play 14 of 23 games on the road in March and April, returning home for no more than two games in succession the rest of the season.
"This team, I said in the beginning of the year, should be pretty competitive if we could stay healthy," coach Jerry Sloan said, "but we haven't stayed healthy until now."
JAZZ 108, HAWKS 89: The last time the Jazz beat the Hawks in Utah was Feb. 13, 1993, with Dominique Wilkins scoring 43 points. Those memories are growing increasingly distant, with the Jazz beating the Hawks for a 15th consecutive time at home Monday. Deron Williams had 15 points and 10 assists in only 28 minutes, not even returning for the fourth quarter of the blowout.
