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Revitalized Jazz play host to Nets

Nov 29, 2008 - 11:23 AM New Jersey (7-7) at Utah (11-6), 9:00pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- For the last two games, the Utah Jazz have been riding high. That tends to happen when your superstar point guard returns after an extended absence.

The Jazz will have to wait and see whether Deron Williams will make his third straight start as they host the New Jersey Nets on Saturday. When he came back from his sprained left ankle this week, the team said it would proceed with caution when it comes to back-to-back games - at least for the time being. Since Utah played on Friday, that would put his status in question for the Nets.

However, the plus side for the Jazz is that Williams was able to sit for the entire fourth quarter on Friday, as a third-quarter outburst propelled them to a 120-94 blowout over the Sacramento Kings. In fact, the fourth-year guard has played less than 30 minutes in both of his appearances this week, so the ankle may have gotten the rest it needs.

Williams and the Jazz will make that determination prior to the game.

The Nets are also coming off a meeting with the Kings, who took them to overtime Wednesday. Devin Harris hit a go-ahead, turnaround jumper in the game's waning seconds to lift New Jersey to a 116-114 victory.

As a team, the Nets seem to run hot and cold. Thankfully for them, they've been more hot than cold lately, winning five of seven. A lot of that has to do with the continued emergence of point guard Devin Harris, who looks to be on his way to being the face of this franchise.

Harris is averaging 22.5 points, including four showings of 30 points or more. His dribble-penetration has given opponents fits, as he is second in the league in free-throw attempts at 113 per contest - behind only All-Star center Dwight Howard.

He may have to carry the load again, as leading scorer Vince Carter is hobbled by a sore groin. He has said that he expects to play against Utah.