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Trail Blazers look to continue winning streak vs. slumping Jazz

Dec 14, 2007 - 3:17 PM Utah (13-8) at Portland (9-12) 10:00 pm EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) - A pair of teams going in suprisingly opposite directions meet when the Utah Jazz visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

The suddenly surging Blazers will be going for their sixth straight victory for the first time since winning eight consecutive games from December 14-30 in 2002.

Meanwhile, Utah has lost five games in a row and has not lost six straight since losing nine consecutive from March 4-19 in 2005.

Portland, which had lost nine of 10 games before their recent winning streak, defeated Utah, 97-89, on Tuesday - its fourth win during the run - before beating Golden State on Wednesday.

The Blazers have been without its leading scorer and rebounder, LaMarcus Aldridge, for the past two games due to plantar fasciitis. However, reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy has stepped up during the streak, averaging 22.8 points over the past five games.

The Jazz have lost four of their games on the road, including a 103-98 setback at Phoenix on Wednesday.

Carlos Boozer has posted two straight double-doubles, and leads the team averaging just over 25 points and 11 rebounds per game.