• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jazz-Suns Preview

Mar 18, 2010 - 7:29 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Utah (44-24) at Phoenix (42-26), 10:00 p.m. EDT

With their offense clicking, the Phoenix Suns are poised to continue their push up the Western Conference standings. A visit from the banged-up Utah Jazz may provide a good opportunity to do so.

Phoenix looks to win for the 11th time in 14 games Friday night when it hosts a Jazz team that could be without Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and Wesley Matthews.

The Suns (42-26) moved 16 games above .500 for the first time this season with a 152-114 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. Phoenix's point total was the highest in the NBA this season and the club's best effort since a 154-130 victory at Golden State on March 15, 2009.

"We're just trying to gear up for the last 15 games, have a pace that we're comfortable with," said coach Alvin Gentry, whose team trails Utah by two games for the No. 4 seed.

Phoenix, the league leader with 110.1 points per game, is averaging 117.8 on a homestand that began March 4 with a 116-108 loss to the Jazz. Williams scored 13 of his 27 points in the final quarter as Utah (44-24) erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to snap the Suns' five-game home winning streak.

The Jazz have won both matchups with Phoenix this season and three straight in the series.

Williams, though, could be out Friday due to a bruised shoulder and sprained ankle suffered in a 122-100 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday. If he can go, he will try to extend his streak of 21 games with at least nine assists - the longest such run in the league since 1996-97.

Kirilenko is averaging 18.5 points against Phoenix this season, but is questionable after re-aggravating a strained calf that sidelined him for two games earlier this week.

Matthews is also day-to-day after straining his knee Wednesday.

"Everybody's a little banged up here and there," said Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, averaging 18.0 points and 17.5 boards versus the Suns in 2009-10.

Phoenix, meanwhile, escaped unscathed from its victory over the Timberwolves, with none of its starters playing 30 minutes.

"I liked that because obviously we've got Utah coming in here Friday and you know what a physical game that will be," Gentry said.

Amare Stoudemire didn't have much of a problem with the Jazz's physical play March 4, scoring 30 points and hitting 11 of 17 shots. He has averaged 30.0 points and 10.1 rebounds in the last eight games.

Steve Nash had 14 of the Suns' season-high 37 assists Tuesday. He recorded 15 assists in the two games against the Jazz this season.

Utah and Phoenix close out their schedules April 14 in Salt Lake City.