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Okur leads hot-shooting Jazz vs. struggling Bulls

Mar 11, 2008 - 12:20 PM Utah (42-22) at Chicago (25-38) 8:30 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - The Utah Jazz have no problem winning at home. It's when they hit the road that things get dicey.

But the Jazz should not have too much trouble on Tuesday when they aim for a sixth straight win against the defensively-challenged Chicago Bulls.

Utah, which has won 18 straight at home, has not fared as well on the road. Owners of the league's best home record at 28-3, the Jazz are 14-19 away from EnergySolutions Center.

Led by the resurgence of Mehmet Okur, the Jazz have been red-hot from the field.

The 6-11 center is averaging 20.8 points and shooting 58.3 percent (35-of-60) from the floor in helping the Jazz average 118.4 points during the five-game winning streak.

On Saturday Okur scored 27 points on 9-of-11 from the floor as the Jazz posted a 132-105 win over Denver.

The Jazz have shot 50 percent or better from the floor in each game during their winning streak. It's their longest such streak since shooting 50 percent or better in seven straight games from February 27-March 9, 1997.

Utah, which is 4 1/2 games up on Denver (37-26) in the Northwest Division, have a good shot at continuing that streak against the Bulls.

Chicago has lost two straight and allowed 232 points in that span. On Sunday, the Bulls allowed the Detroit Pistons to shoot 50 percent (41-of-81) in a 116-109 setback. Chicago also lost 116-93 at Boston on Friday.

A bright spot has been the play of Ben Gordon, who is averaging 23.3 points over the last three games.