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Shorthanded Jazz go for revenge against Thunder

Jan 30, 2009 - 11:13 AM Oklahoma City (11-35) at Utah (25-21) 9:00 p.m. EST

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- It was, without a doubt, the most embarrassing loss of the season for the Utah Jazz. On the heels of a four-game winning streak, they took to the road to face the league's worst team ... and somehow came away with a 21-point blowout loss.

Just over two weeks later, the Jazz get a chance to return the favor when the suddenly respectable Oklahoma City Thunder come to town Friday night for a Northwest Division clash.

The Thunder's 114-93 victory was the beginning of a miserable stretch for the Jazz - which still hasn't come to an end. They have lost six of their last eight, including four in a row, to fall out of the last spot in the Western Conference's current playoff chase.

The news gets worse, too. With the team already depleted by various injuries - both serious and merely nagging - sixth man Andrei Kirilenko will miss at least the next three weeks, as he is schedule to undergo surgery on his ailing right ankle on Friday. The veteran forward, Utah's most versatile defender, is averaging 12.7 points, 5.8 boards, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks this season.

The Jazz are already without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, who will likely be out until just after the All-Star break after having surgery on his left knee.

The Thunder have used their upset victory over the Jazz - which was their first of the season over a club with a winning record - and turned it into a bit of momentum, winning five of seven overall to push out of the NBA's basement.

Second-year swingman Kevin Durant continues to emerge as a top-flight scorer, posting a 46-point, 15-rebound effort in a loss to the Clippers last week and a 35-point, 10-board, six-assist showing two games later in an overtime win against Memphis.

Considered a darkhorse All-Star contender, he did not make the cut when the Western Conference's reserves were announced on Thursday.