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Magic face another stiff road test in Utah

Dec 13, 2008 - 11:26 AM Orlando (17-6) at Utah (15-9), 9:00pm EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Orlando Magic's five-game Western Conference road trip hit its first stumbling block on Friday, as they fell by one point to the Phoenix Suns.

On Saturday in Salt Lake City, they will try to get back on track - but will have to face one of the toughest home courts in the NBA to do so. The Magic visit the Utah Jazz, who are beginning to round into shape after a season rocked by injury problems.

The Jazz defeated division rival Portland on Thursday, as star point guard Deron Williams - who has been battling a severely sprained left ankle since the preseason - began to show a bit more hop in his step. It was his first game playing without a protective ankle brace - a decision that he said caused him a bit more pain during the game but allowed him more mobility as well.

Utah is still without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, who has missed 12 games with a strained left quadriceps tendon. He had targeted the Magic game as a possible return date, but that has been ruled out.

The last time the Magic visited the Jazz, they came close but could never get over the hump, eventually falling, 119-115. Dwight Howard did his part, collecting 29 points and 15 boards while going 17-for-24 from the foul line - a respectable percentage from a guy not known for his free-throw shooting.

However, this time around, Orlando isn't certain it will have Howard's services. The All-Star center left Friday's game early in the third quarter with a sore left knee and did not return.