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Jazz hope to rebound vs. Nuggets

Apr 11, 2007 - 3:49 PM Denver (41-36) at Utah (48-29) 9:00 pm EDT

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) - The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets aren't going to cross paths in the Western Conference playoff pitcure. But they are going in distinctly different directions.

On Wednesday, the Jazz, who have dropped a season-high four games in a row, host the Nuggets, who have won a season-best six straight contests.

Utah's four losses have come to teams with sub-.500 records and have dropped the club to 48-29, one-half game behind Houston (49-29) for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They have not dropped five in a row since November 2005.

The Nuggets' surge has moved them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (40-38) for sixth place in the West and a likely first-round matchup with San Antonio.

Denver is coming off Monday's pivotal 115-111 victory over the Lakers and appears to be peaking at the right time. The Nuggets are 27-27 since the arrival of superstar guard Allen Iverson and have clinched their fourth consecutive season at .500 or better.

The Jazz have won all three meetings between the teams this season, all of which came after the Nuggets acquired Iverson. However, they have been unable to keep four-time scoring champion off the free-throw line, allowing him 42 trips.