• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Williams, Jazz try to change fortunes vs. Bobcats

Nov 14, 2008 - 11:20 AM Utah (6-2) at Charlotte (2-5), 7:00 p.m. EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Recent history has not been kind to the Utah Jazz when they visit Charlotte. Over the last two years, the Jazz have established themselves as one of the powers of the Western Conference, but they have hit a stumbling block against the lowly Charlotte Bobcats both seasons.

They will try to reverse that trend on Friday as they visit the struggling Bobcats for the fourth leg of a five-game, Eastern Conference road trip.

So far, the results haven't been to Utah's liking. While the team received the pleasant surprise of seeing injured point guard Deron Williams return to the lineup on Tuesday after missing the previous six games, it is still 1-2 on the road swing after losses to the New York Knicks and previously winless Washington Wizards.

Williams, who missed more than three weeks with a sprained left ankle suffered in preseason, has struggled with his shot in his return. That can likely be attributed to rust and perhaps a residual effect from the injury itself. Nevertheless, his addition can only boost a Jazz team that has gotten off to a 6-2 start.

Now, the big obstacle is coming out of this road trip with a winning record. Last season, they were just 17-24 away from home during the regular season - including a 98-92 loss to the Bobcats in which they committed 20 turnovers. That was part of a miserable 3-10 stretch for the Jazz, who wound up going 38-12 the rest of the way.

On Wednesday, their defense broke down in the fourth quarter for the second time in three games against the Wizards. They are facing a Charlotte club that has reached the 100-point mark once and is averaging a league-low 87.3 points.