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Inconsistent Jazz try to get on track vs. Warriors

Jan 5, 2009 - 2:42 PM Golden State (10-25) at Utah (19-15) 9:00 p.m. EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- The Utah Jazz are expected to be a major contender in the Western Conference this season - a healthy version, at least. The version that has been on the floor this season, however, has been anything but healthy.

Without their leading scorer for at least another month, the Jazz kick off a four-game homestand on Monday night as they host the lowly Golden State Warriors.

Two-time All-Star forward Carlos Boozer will have surgery to take care of his ailing left knee this week, so the Jazz will have to continue to move forward without him - which is what they've had to do over the last 22 games..

Thankfully for them, third-year forward Paul Millsap has just returned from his own knee injury and picked up right where he left off, collecting 16 points and 17 boards in a 113-100 loss to the high-powered Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Utah is 12-4 at EnergySolutions Arena this season and swept the season series with the Warriors in 2007-08. Golden State has dropped two games in a row - and lost to a pair of the worst teams in the league.

First it was an embarrassing, 107-100 defeat at the hands of the four-win Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights later. Stephen Jackson posted 25 points and seven assists in a losing cause.