Jazz try to snap losing streak against Suns

Dec. 12, 2007 By Rob Gerein

The Jazz have lost four straight and the slump has cost them first place in the Northwest division. Utah now sits in second, one-half game behind the Denver Nuggets.

Phoenix has had its own problems, dropping their past two tilts to teams with losing records and watching their lead in the Pacific division slip to three games over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bet this Western Conference matchup at BetUS, which has the Suns as 7½-point favorites and the over/under at 225½. 

Utah (13-9 SU) lost its fourth in a row as it was upset 97-89 by the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. A fifth straight loss tonight against the Suns would match the Jazz's longest skid from last season, set April 4-11.

Phoenix (16-6 SU) is tied with the Orlando Magic for the NBA's second-best but has lost consecutive games to teams with a combined 9-31 record. After winning five straight, the Suns lost 100-93 to league-worst Minnesota on Saturday night, then fell 117-113 to Miami two days later.

Phoenix’s Steve Nash is shooting 33.3 percent (9-for-27) in his last two contests, but had 14 assists Monday to raise his season average to a league-leading 12.4. The two-time MVP has recorded at least 14 assists in seven straight games.

Nash had 18 assists in a 126-98 win over Utah on April 14 to help Phoenix avoid
being swept in the teams' four meetings last season. The Suns have lost their last two at home to the Jazz.

Utah is 7-1 ATS in its past eight games on the road against Phoenix, 4-1 SU in its past five against Phoenix, and 4-2 ATS in its past six against Phoenix.

Phoenix is 13-4 SU in its past 17 games, and 6-2 SU in its past eight at home.

The total has gone over in six of Phoenix's past seven overall, and over in five of Phoenix's past seven at home.

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