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Jazz-Kings Preview

Feb 25, 2010 - 6:59 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Utah (37-20) at Sacramento (18-39), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Carlos Boozer has come up big late in games for Utah recently, but the Jazz didn't need him the last time they faced the Sacramento Kings.

Boozer and the Jazz look to win eight straight on the road for the first time in nearly 12 years when they meet the Kings on Friday.

Utah (37-20) continues to challenge Denver in the Northwest Division, going 18-3 since early January. The Jazz bounced back from a 105-100 loss to Atlanta on Monday with a 102-93 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday.

Boozer scored 33 points, including 20 in the second half when Utah outscored the Bobcats 60-40. It was the second 30-point performance in the last four games for Boozer, who shot 13 of 16 from the field and added 16 rebounds while falling two points shy of matching his season high.

"Once we adjusted at halftime ... we kept going inside, which opened up our 3-point shooting later on," Boozer said. "We got aggressive. I felt like I had an advantage and told Willie (Deron Williams) to keep coming to me."

On Sunday at Portland, Boozer's putback at the buzzer sent the game into overtime and he put the Jazz ahead for good in the extra session.

Boozer will try to stay hot as the Jazz go back on the road after playing their last two at home. Utah will be looking to win eight straight away from home for the first time since a nine-game run Feb. 14-March 16, 1998.

Boozer missed a 101-94 home win over the Kings (18-39) on Jan. 29 because of a strained calf, and Williams also sat out. The two combined for 45 points in a 104-99 loss to Sacramento in Salt Lake City on Nov. 7.

Kings rookie Tyreke Evans has been outstanding in both games against the Jazz, averaging 28.5 points and 6.5 assists. He scored 28 as Sacramento lost its fifth straight Tuesday, 101-89 to Detroit.

It was the third straight game Sacramento was held to fewer than 90 points. The Kings scored 32 points over the second and third quarters as they suffered their 23rd loss in 27 games.

It didn't help that they were without Spencer Hawes, who has started 42 games at center. Hawes, who averages 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds, was in street clothes for disciplinary issues, according to coach Paul Westphal.

Hawes had been critical in a story in Tuesday's Sacramento Bee about how Westphal rotates players in and out of the lineup. He has used 24 different starting combinations this season.

"I don't know what the situation is (with Hawes)," Evans said. "But we are all NBA players and we have a job to do and the coach has a job to do."

The Kings, who have lost five in a row at Arco Arena, close a three-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

The Jazz have won their last two visits to Sacramento by a combined nine points.