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Jazz, Nuggets cross paths in Denver

Mar 27, 2015 - 2:06 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Utah Jazz will pay a visit to the Northwest Division-rival Denver Nuggets Friday at the Pepsi Center.

The Jazz have lost three in a row and four of their last five games following a six-game winning streak, and dropped a 92-89 decision to the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday in Salt Lake City.

Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 and 19 points, respectively, to help the Blazers stop a five-game slide.

Jazz forward Derrick Favors, whose last-second 3-pointer caromed off the backboard and missed at the horn, tallied 26 points and 13 rebounds in a losing effort. Utah had an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Portland chipped away and held on for the win.

"We had some breakdowns, obviously, in the fourth quarter defensively," Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

Trey Burke scored 22 points for the Jazz, who were without leading scorer Gordon Hayward (shoulder). Rudy Gobert ended with 12 points and 10 boards.

Hayward is probable Friday and guard Rodney Hood (virus) is expected to miss the game against the Nuggets.

The Jazz have a 14-21 road record and will host Oklahoma City Saturday.

Denver has lost four of five games after winning four straight, and sustained a 99-85 loss to the road-weary Philadelphia 76ers Wednesday night.

The Sixers ended a 16-game road skid and were led by Robert Covington's 25 points and six rebounds off the bench. Nerlens Noel posted 14 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks and Isaiah Canaan netted 15 points for Philadelphia, which held the Nuggets to 34.5 percent shooting .

Ty Lawson had 19 points, Wilson Chandler ended with 16 and 11 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson added 12 points in a reserve role for the Nuggets.

"We never really found a pace to get on," Lawson said.

Denver had won three in a row in the Rocky Mountains and fell to 16-20 at the Pepsi Center this season.

After hosting the Jazz, Denver will play three straight on the road against Portland, Utah and San Antonio.

Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari left the Sixers game with a sore shoulder and is listed as questionable. Gallinari had eight points in 31 minutes, one game after pouring in 40 points in Sunday's win at Orlando.

The Nuggets and Jazz have split a pair of games this season and the Northwest foes collide April 1 in Salt Lake City. Denver is 5-3 in the last eight games in this series.