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Jazz look to snap skid in return home

Nov 17, 2008 - 3:09 PM Phoenix (8-3) at Utah (6-4), 9:00 pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz have dominated their series with the Phoenix Suns over the last two years. But many of the players responsible for that success may not even be in uniform when the teams suit up Monday night.

The shorthanded Jazz look to put an end to their three-game losing streak as they return home to host the Suns.

Utah, which has won six of the last eight meetings with Phoenix, could be without point guard Deron Williams, forward Andrei Kirilenko and center Mehmet Okur for Monday's contest.

Williams, nursing a sprained left ankle that he originally suffered in the preseason, returned to the lineup last week after missing six games. But after two nights back, he was sidelined once again over the weekend - admitting that he may have returned a bit too early.

Kirilenko has missed the last two games with a sprained finger - though he expects to play Monday. Okur is in his native Turkey tending to his ailing father.

The Jazz have not determined whether Williams or Okur will play Monday.

Utah has lost three consecutive games and is coming off a 1-4 road trip salvaged only by last Tuesday's victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Suns have won two straight games, including a 104-86 rout of the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Despite Shaquille O'Neal's second-quarter ejection for a flagrant foul, Phoenix manhandled Detroit on the strength of Amare Stoudemire's 29 points and 11 rebounds. Steve Nash added 17 points and seven assists.