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Jazz, Lakers meet in playoff rematch

Jan 2, 2009 - 11:10 AM Utah (19-14) at LA Lakers (25-5) 10:30 p.m. EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The new year will begin in familiar territory for the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz.

The two Western Conference contenders will stage a rematch of their second-round playoff series from last May as the Lakers continue their five-game homestand against the shorthanded Jazz.

Last year, the Lakers took care of the Jazz in six games on their way to an NBA Finals appearance, withstanding a late 3-point rally in the deciding game at EnergySolutions Arena. But this showdown - the first of three this season between the two clubs - will be at the Staples Center, where the Lakers have lost just once all season and where the Jazz haven't won since February 6.

Of course, this Jazz lineup will be significantly different from the one that squared off against Los Angeles last spring. Carlos Boozer is out for at least another month - having already missed 21 games with nagging knee and quad injuries - while Paul Millsap is nursing a sprained left knee.

That likely means that Utah's offense will have to rely more heavily on Deron Williams, who has begun to round into shape after struggling with an ankle injury earlier this season. That arrangement should work just fine for the fourth-year point guard, who carried the Jazz throughout last year's series against the Lakers.

With Boozer struggling to establish himself inside, Williams shouldered the load, averaging 22.3 points and 11.5 assists.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have managed to remain mostly healthy so far. Six of their top eight players have played all 30 games and Pau Gasol has missed just one contest.

The team struggled through a rare two-game losing streak in late December, but has rebounded with four straight wins. During that span, the Lakers snapped the Celtics' 19-game winning streak and followed that up with a season-best 130-point showing in a rout over the Golden State Warriors.