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Unbeaten Jazz open up road trip against Knicks

Nov 9, 2008 - 7:19 AM Utah (5-0) at NY Knicks (3-2), 3:00pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The start to the 2008-09 season has been a surprisingly smooth one for the Utah Jazz, who have had to survive without star point guard Deron Williams and still managed to open 5-0. What awaits them over the next week is their stiffest test yet.

The Jazz kick off a five-game, Eastern Conference road trip on Sunday against the New York Knicks.

While Utah is notoriously difficult to beat at home - going a league-best 37-4 last season - it will not be going back to its comfort zone of EnergySolutions Arena until November 17, and the road has been a different story entirely. The two-time reigning Northwest Division champs were just 17-24 away from home during 2007-08.

The Knicks have hardly been a high-quality team over the last few years, but the Jazz have had trouble against them nonetheless. They have not won at Madison Square Garden since 2003-04, when Andrei Kirilenko's 23-point effort led them to a 92-78 triumph on February 20, 2004.

Since then, the Knicks have protected their homecourt against Utah in four straight meetings, including last season's 113-109 victory behind Stephon Marbury's 28 points.

Of course, New York has ushered in a new era, and Marbury - who also buried a buzzer-beater to defeat the Jazz, 97-96, two seasons ago - isn't even a part of it. The high-priced guard is not a factor in new head coach's Mike D'Antoni's plans and he has not played this season.

The Knicks have managed to make do without him. While offensive production has been decidedly hit-or-miss from game to game, they have won two straight and are above .500 through five games for the first time since 2000.

Zach Randolph leads the way with 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, while Jamal Crawford has added 16.6 and is connecting on 40 percent from 3-point range.

The Jazz will be looking for added production from point guard Ronnie Price, who has taken over for Williams in the starting lineup. Williams is still out with a sprained left ankle and may not return to the court until the Jazz get back home. Price is shooting just 24 percent (9-of-37) so far.