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Jazz go for fourth straight victory

Mar 5, 2007 - 4:17 PM Charlotte (22-38) at Utah (40-19) 9:00 pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - Now that the Utah Jazz have the Northwest Division firmly in their grasp, they can concentrate on moving up in the Western Conference standings.

The Jazz return from a perfect three-game road trip to host the struggling Charlotte Bobcats on Monday.

Utah holds a comfortable 11-game lead over second-place Denver in the Northwest. The Jazz wrapped up their trip with a 108-94 triumph over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday as All-Star Mehmet Okur broke out of a two-game slump with 28 points.

Before the trip, the Jazz had a six-game home winning streak snapped with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers a week ago. But their 22 victories at EnergySolutions Arena are third in the Western Conference behind Dallas (29) and Phoenix (23).

Utah welcomes Charlotte, which is having a rough time on the road. The Bobcats fell to 0-4 on their six-game trip with Sunday's 96-89 loss to Seattle.

Gerald Wallace scored 19 points and rookie Adam Morrison netted 17 for the Bobcats, who are just 9-22 away from home.

Behind 21 points from forward Emeka Okafor, the Bobcats defeated the Jazz, 101-89, on December 22, the lone meeting this season. However, Okafor sat out his fourth straight game with a calf injury Sunday and is doubtful for Monday's contest.