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Hornets target first win against Jazz

Feb 29, 2008 - 3:11 PM Utah (37-21) at New Orleans (38-18) 8:00 pm EST

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Not many teams have been able to solve All-Star guard Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets this season. The Utah Jazz are one of the lucky few that have.

Paul and the Hornets look to avoid their third straight blowout at the hands of the Jazz when the Western Conference teams meet Friday.

The Hornets ended their three-game skid Wednesday with a 120-103 home rout of the Phoenix Suns, as Paul exploded for 25 points and 15 assists.

Six players finished in double figures for New Orleans, which shot 53 percent to defeat the Suns for the fourth time in as many tries this season.

However, finding an answer against the Jazz has been a completely different story.

Paul has averaged just 10.5 points and 6.0 assists in two games against Utah and 2005 first-round classmate Deron Williams, who was selected by the Jazz one spot ahead of Paul with the No. 3 overall pick in that draft.

The Hornets were blown out, 99-71, on the road on November 23 and didn't play much better in a 110-88 road loss on February 4.

Utah is coming off an impressive home win of its own - a 103-95 triumph over the Detroit Pistons - on Wednesday.

Williams had 14 points and 14 assists to complement Carlos Boozer's 18 points and 15 rebounds to improve its league-best home record to 25-3.

The Jazz have endured a bit more difficulty on the road, going just 12-18 away from home, including losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers in their last two road games.