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Jazz try to salvage trip at Lakers

Jan 25, 2011 - 4:30 PM (Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz look to salvage the finale of a five-game road trip when they take on the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers tonight from Staples Center.

The Jazz ventured out on their trek riding a three-game winning streak, but dropped decisions in Washington, New Jersey, Boston and Philadelphia. They fell to 12-10 away from Salt Lake City with Saturday's 96-85 setback to the 76ers, as Deron Williams paced Utah with 20 points, 14 assists and six rebounds.

Al Jefferson ended with 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Jazz, who got 18 points and 12 boards from Paul Millsap.

"We're struggling. We just have to see what we're made out of and fight our way out of it," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said.

Utah committed 17 turnovers, leading to 19 Sixers points, shot 42 percent for the game and finished just 4-of-16 from three-point range. Williams accounted for two of those three-pointers.

The last time the Jazz lost five in a row was a six-game slide from Dec. 4-14 of the 2007-08 campaign.

Los Angeles will begin a five-game homestand tonight against the Jazz, Kings, Celtics, Rockets and Spurs, and is 17-5 in Hollywood this season.

The Lakers have won two of three and 11 of their last 14 games, including Friday's 107-97 triumph at Denver in the conclusion of a quick two-game road trip. Pau Gasol had 19 points and 13 rebounds, Kobe Bryant scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter and Ron Artest ended with 19 points for LA, which rebounded from Wednesday's loss in Dallas.

"We had the pace of the game where we wanted it. We had the defense chip in and we had some defensive stops," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson.

Lamar Odom compiled 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrew Bynum scored 17 points to help his squad snap a four-game slide in the Rocky Mountains. The Lakers will put their six-game home winning streak on the line tonight.

Utah defeated the Lakers, 102-96, on Nov. 26 this season in Salt Lake City thanks to 29 points from Williams and an 11-0 run to close out the contest. Jefferson had 20 points in that one for Utah, which has still lost 10 of the past 14 meetings between the teams.

The Jazz have lost eight straight, nine of 10 and 16 of their last 18 contests as the visitor in this series.