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Jazz out to pass road test vs. Timberwolves

Mar 30, 2008 - 1:00 PM Utah (48-25) at Minnesota (18-53) 3:30 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz need to prove they can win on the road to be considered a true title contender in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

The Jazz are looking to make a statement Sunday when they visit the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

Utah (48-25) owns fourth place in the West by virtue of its three-game lead over the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in the Northwest Division.

However, the Jazz's success this season has come despite a mediocre 16-21 record away from home - the second-worst mark of any team in the top eight in the West.

Utah improved to an NBA-best 32-4 at home Friday by forging a 121-101 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. Carlos Boozer had 34 points and 17 rebounds and Deron Williams added 32 and 10 assists to lead the shorthanded Jazz.

Former All-Star center Mehmet Okur and second-year guard Ronnie Brewer were both scratched from Friday's lineup with a stomach virus while Andrei Kirilenko played just nine minutes before leaving with muscle cramps in his right calf.

The Timberwolves suffered their second straight loss and third in their last four games with a 99-84 setback to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.

Ryan Gomes had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Al Jefferson added 14 and eight for Minnesota, which fell to 5-30 away from the Target Center this season.