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Bulls look to become first team to beat Jazz at home

Nov 24, 2008 - 3:18 PM Chicago (6-8) at Utah (9-5), 9:00pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz are nearly unbeatable at home. The Chicago Bulls can't seem to win on the road. Both of those trends will be put to the test Monday night.

The struggling Bulls continue their seven-game road trip as they visit the Jazz, who are trying to improve to 7-0 at home. Chicago has won just one of its first four games on the trip - a 115-110 triumph over the Golden State Warriors on Friday.

But the Bulls followed that with a forgettable performance on Sunday - or more specifically, a forgettable fourth quarter. The Denver Nuggets staged an 18-2 run to end the game, erasing a three-point deficit while running away with a 114-101 win. As has been the common theme lately, the Bulls got plenty of production from their backcourt - but the lack of a frontcourt presence and an inability to get key stops down the stretch doomed them once again.

With just one road victory all season, the Bulls now have the unenviable task of trying to beat the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena - something only four teams did all of the 2007-8 campaign and that no one has accomplished this season. However, Utah is still without its top two players, as Deron Williams will miss his 13th game with a sprained left ankle suffered, fittingly, against Chicago this preseason.

All-Star forward Carlos Boozer is also out for the next few days with a strained left quadriceps tendon.

Still, the Jazz's injury problems - which have permeated the entire lineup, not just Williams and Boozer - haven't stopped them from competing, particularly on their home floor. Andrei Kirilenko has relished his role as the team's sixth man thus far, averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 boards, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per contest.

Meanwhile, All-Star center Mehmet Okur is coming off one of his best games of the season, a 23-point effort in Saturday's road win over the Memphis Grizzlies.