Miller: Malone ‘unstable, unreliable’ The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 4, 2012 10:15AM MDT A blog post by Jazz CEO Greg Miller on Friday evening called former Utah forward Karl Malone “too unreliable and too unstable” to coach the team’s big men, and said Malone was lying about being unable to get a game ticket. Earlier in the evening, Miller took to Twitter to accuse Malone of telling tales. “Hey Karl — you’re lying. You have my number. Next time you need a seat to a Jazz game, call me. You can have mine,” Miller said via his account at 6:33 p.m. Malone recently told a Salt Lake Tr... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

On Friday, we published an account detailing a report from the Salt Lake Tribune, with writer Gordon Monson helping Karl Malone once again tear into the Utah Jazz for their work in making life untenable for former coach Jerry Sloan. … Continue reading ?

Not too long ago, Jamaal Tinsley wasn't even sure if he'd play in the NBA this season—or ever, really. Tinsley hoped so, but he'd been out of the league during the 2010-11 season and was laboring in the D-League in early December. Tinsley earned his way onto the Jazz roster with a non-guaranteed contract (decision day is Feb. 10), but playing time had been sparse for him through the first 20 games of the 2011-12. That changed in a big way Thursday when Tinsley became the Jazz's starting point guard. Both of Utah's main playmakers—starter Devin Harris and backup Earl Watson—were injured during the Jazz's home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Harris hoped to play through his strained left hamstring injury, but he was ruled out...

Utah Jazz point guards say there’s ‘no reason for friction’ By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 4, 2012 12:30AM MDT It could be an old-school dogfight. Devin Harris vs. Earl Watson. Two veterans attacking each other. Two respected NBA point guards dueling on the court and slicing away behind the scenes, constantly trying to gain the upper hand and catch Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin’s attention. Instead, Harris and Watson have drowned their professional egos in a joint effort to keep Utah’s evolution moving forward. Despite the fact that Watson has sometimes outplayed Harris, who still hasn’t found a constant rhyt... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Monson: A year later, Karl Malone calls out the Jazz on Jerry Sloan’s exit By Gordon Monson Tribune Columnist Published Feb 3, 2012 11:49PM MDT A couple of weeks before the first anniversary of the Night That Rocked the Jazz, the messy night that Deron Williams, first, pushed back too hard on Jerry Sloan during a game against Chicago and Sloan, second, felt undercut by his best player and, in one quick moment, undersupported by Jazz management and, third, quit, Karl Malone wanted to talk. What happened to Sloan had festered inside Malone for long enough. In the immediate aftermath, he came to Utah to express concern, buying his own tic... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah Jazz blown out by Golden State Warriors By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 3, 2012 11:49PM MDT Oakland, Calif. • Jamaal Tinsley answered the call. So did the Jazz — initially. Then reality set in. And with Utah bandaged and weary just 21 games into a lockout-shortened season, the Jazz will now return to Salt Lake City attempting to unearth some form of momentum before hitting the road for a two-month test that could define their fortune this year. Utah was blown out 119-101 by the Golden State Warriors on Thursday at Oracle Arena. Jazz-Warriors box score: http://bit.ly/yImIcl Gordo... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jazz Notes: Jamaal Tinsley gets unexpected last-minute start for Utah By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 3, 2012 11:49PM MDT Oakland, Calif. • Coach Tyrone Corbin knew the Jazz would be short-handed Thursday. But he had no idea the deck would be stacked. When Corbin spoke with the media 75 minutes before tipoff against the Golden State Warriors, backup Jazz point guard Earl Watson had already been ruled out due to a sprained left ankle. Just 30 minutes later, Utah suffered another blow. Starting point guard Devin Harris was a late scratch, unable to play because of a strained left hamstring he aggravated Wednesday dur... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jazz notes: Coach Tyrone Corbin confident Utah is one of the best By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 2, 2012 11:35PM MDT Some coaches would hold back, afraid of setting unrealistic expectations and waiting to watch their team develop before making any major pronouncements. Not Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. The second-year leader set the bar high as soon as a disappointing 2010-11 season ended, challenged his team throughout training camp and the preseason this year, and has continued to push hard during the initial stage of 2011-12. With Utah 12-7 entering a home contest Wednesday against the Pacific Division-leadin... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NBA: Chris Paul guides Clippers to rare victory in Utah, 107-105 By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 2, 2012 11:35PM MDT It was Chris Paul vs. the Jazz. Paul was often untouchable and sometimes unguardable. One against five, CP3 won. The All-NBA point guard torched Utah’s defense, burned EnergySolutions Arena’s nets and never stopped firing Wednesday. By the time his one-man show was over, Paul had poured in a season-high 34 points on 15-of-24 shooting and the Los Angeles Clippers had claimed a 107-105 hard-fought victory over Utah. Clippers-Jazz box score: http://bit.ly/yIo2c1 Everyone from Jazz coach Tyrone Co... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Monta Ellis didn't seem too impressed with Golden State's best offensive performance of the season. It was the Warriors defense which had Ellis grinning in the locker room afterward -- and had coach Mark Jackson propping up his backcourt as one of the top tandems in the NBA. Ellis scored 33 points, Stephen Curry added 29 points and a season-high 12 assists and Golden State capped its...

SALT LAKE CITY (February 2, 2012) - 1320 KFAN (KFNZ), which already features both the television and radio voices of the Utah Jazz (Craig Bolerjack and David Locke), the highest-rated sports radio show in the market (David James and Patrick Kinahan) and the talents of Scott Garrard, Ben Bagley and Tony Parks, announced today the addition of Spencer Checketts to the sports radio station's highly-popular lineup. READ MORE >>

Utah Jazz: Chris Paul’s presence makes difference for L.A. By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 2, 2012 04:34PM MDT Down the stretch, the Jazz just didn’t have the horses. Turning to their stars, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Los Angeles Clippers outplayed Utah in the final minutes Wednesday night and scored a 107-105 victory at EnergySolutions Arena. Paul scored 12 of his 34 points in the final 6:44 and Griffin converted a three-point play with 21.9 seconds left to lead the Clippers to their first victory in Utah since 2003. “They have guys who can make big shots,” said C.J. Miles. “At the end, that’s wh... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

With nearly one-third of their 66-game season complete, the Utah Jazz have played a league-low six road games. Their schedule is about to start balancing out. Beginning a stretch of 14 of 20 on the road, Utah goes for the season sweep in Oakland in Thursday night's matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Despite Wednesday's 107-105 loss to the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers, the Jazz (12-8) have been outstanding at home, winning 10 of 14. READ MORE >>

Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers motivated to beat Utah Jazz By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 2, 2012 07:04AM MDT Watching helplessly from the Los Angeles Clippers’ bench in a perfectly tailored suit, Chris Paul seethed the last time his team visited EnergySolutions Arena. A little over two weeks ago, the Utah Jazz ran their own dunkfest on Lob City, defeating the Clippers by 29 points, celebrating with each throwdown and sending their fans home in a frenzy. Paul, who was injured at the time, felt Utah ran up the score, as did many of his teammates. On Wednesday night, this was more than just a regular-seas... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Block City: Utah Jazz among NBA’s best at swatting shots By Brian T. Smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 2, 2012 12:26AM MDT The Jazz’s undersized big-men duo of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap still patrol the paint. There’s no DeAndre Jordan, JaVale McGee or Serge Ibaka lurking in the lane to suddenly leap through the air and annihilate a potential basket. And some of Utah’s key shot blockers rely on nothing more than natural-born instinct and God-given hops to protect the rim, acknowledging they simply see and react rather than plot and destroy. But what the high-flying Jazz lack in big-name swatting expertise, they... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Chris Paul was shocked to learn the Los Angeles Clippers hadn't won in Utah since 2003. He made sure that slate was wiped clean Wednesday night, scoring a season-high 34 points in the Clippers' 107-105 victory over the Jazz. The win ended a string of 16 straight losses in Salt Lake City, where the Clippers had prevailed just once in the previous 39 meetings.

Earl Watson inspires Jazz in win over Portland Trail Blazers By brian t. smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 1, 2012 08:53PM MDT Jazz guard Earl Watson is becoming contagious. He tweets words of inspiration. He constantly says an unproven Utah team can be anything it wants to be. He preaches 100 percent effort and respect for the game, demanding the Jazz not give in to lesser temptations. Anything can happen in a lockout-shortened season. Bad teams can be good. Good teams can be great. And with every victory a scrappy Utah squad collects, Watson envisions the Jazz becoming something few expected. Utah did just that Monday... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jazz notes: Utah awaits Blake Griffin, Pacific-leading Clippers By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Feb 1, 2012 08:53PM MDT The Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin flew into Salt Lake City on Tuesday, presumably aboard an airplane. During a 112-100 win over Oklahoma City on Monday night, Griffin created a league-wide sensation with a high-flying monster dunk against the Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins. What did Paul Millsap think of Griffin’s dunk? “What everybody else thinks,” he said, laughing. “It was amazing, the courage he showed to even try something like that.” The Jazz play Griffin and the Clippers on Wednesday a... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

While Blake Griffin's incredible dunk during the Los Angeles Clippers' last game dominated the headlines, the team's recent efforts are all the more becoming of some well-deserved acclaim. Seeking a season-best fourth consecutive win, Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles tries to avoid a 43rd loss in 44 road meetings with the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. READ MORE >>

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and the perfect gift will be available on Wednesday, February 1, at the Jazz vs. Clippers game. That night fans can bid on autographed player memorabilia at a silent auction benefiting charity. Items include signed player photos, shoes and basketballs, as well an autographed Jazz flag and more. Articles for sale will be displayed at a designated table located between portals J and K on the main concourse of EnergySolutions Arena. Patrons may place bids until halftime concludes. Winning bidders must collect their item(s) and pay within 30 minutes after the game ends. Funds raised through the auction will benefit various local charitable organizations via Larry H. Miller Charities, a registered nonprofit foundation.

To get a hint of what awaits the Jazz in the miserable month of March, let's examine the preceding 29 days known as February. The schedule makers were kind to the Jazz over the season's first five weeks, allowing them to play 13 home games with only six away from EnergySolutions Arena. As a warm-up to March, during which they play 12 road games and only seven at home, the Jazz play nine of 15 games in February on the road. READ MORE >>

Josh Howard cracks Jazz starting lineup By BRIAN T. SMITH The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 01:08PM MDT Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin had two options Friday evening after learning starting shooting guard Raja Bell (strained right adductor) would be inactive against Portland: C.J. Miles or Josh Howard. Corbin went with Howard. Not because Miles wasn’t ready for prime time. But by promoting Howard and keeping Miles on the bench, Corbin hoped Utah’s first unit would benefit at the same time the team retained a strong one-two punch at small forward. With Howard at the 3, Gordon Hayward bumped down to the 2... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jazz ‘D’ sparks crucial 13-0 run in win over Blazers By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 01:08PM MDT Just when it appeared a spirited comeback would fall short, the Jazz rallied again Monday night and defeated Portland, 93-89. Utah trailed by 11 in the third quarter before tying the game, 70-70. When Portland’s Nicolas Batum buried three consecutive 3-point shots, however, the Blazers regained the momentum with 9:10 remaining. Then? The Jazz suddenly turned the game around with a frenzied 13-0 run — the difference between a frustrating defeat and uplifting victory that left coach Tyrone Corbin ... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NBA: Trail Blazers fizzle late in road loss to Jazz By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT For three quarters Monday night, the Portland Trail Blazers controlled the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Using their impressive length, the Blazers frustrated Ty Corbin’s team on both ends, force-feeding LaMarcus Aldridge and bottling up Jazz forward Paul Millsap. But NBA hoops is a 48-minute affair. So after the Jazz rallied for a 93-89 win — an important Northwest division victory at that — the Blazers could only wonder what caused Utah’s rally. “It’s very frustrating,” Aldridge said bet... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Archived: Portland Trailblazers vs. Utah Jazz chat The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT Join our Portland Trailblazers vs. Utah Jazz chat below: <freeform> <iframe src="http://www.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=098667e3b4/height=550/width=470" scrolling="no" height="550px" width="470px" frameBorder ="0" allowTransparency="true" ><a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=098667e3b4" >Portland Trailblazers vs. Utah Jazz chat</a></iframe> </freeform> Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Luhm: NBA All-Star voters can — and do — get it wrong By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT Picking starters for the NBA All-Star Game is tricky business — like voting in a presidential primary. There are many deserving candidates who would probably do a good job, given the opportunity. But most are going to be left behind because, well, perception is reality. Some candidates look, sound and act like a president. Others don’t. It’s the same in the NBA, where the All-Star starters are often selected for the wrong reason. Ask Karl Malone. Midway through the 1989-90 season, when he averag... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Utah Jazz impressed by Jimmer Fredette’s homecoming performance By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT Sacramento rookie Jimmer Fredette’s first game against the Utah Jazz since his glory-filled days at BYU drew a favorable reaction from the team he nearly beat Saturday night. Fredette finished with 14 points, but he missed a go-ahead 3-point shot with 5.9 seconds remaining and the Jazz escaped with a 96-93 victory. “You know what?” Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. “I thought he handled the pressure really well. I thought he did a good job of coming out and playing his game. “He didn’t seem to pres... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NBA: Utah Jazz’s C.J. Miles is attacking instead of worrying By Brian t. smith The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT After too many false starts and broken promises, C.J. Miles’ two-week run as the Jazz’s best and most consistent wing player has come down to two words. They represent freedom and personal fulfillment. They capture everything Utah coach Tyrone Corbin has asked of a captain-less team still searching for an identity. And they meld the tough, fiery nature that’s made the Jazz one of the NBA’s early-season surprises with the on-the-court passion Miles has long tempted fans with but seldom delivered ... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Paul Millsap, Jazz rally for 93-89 win over Portland Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Published Jan 31, 2012 08:37AM MDT Jazz guard Earl Watson is becoming contagious. He tweets words of inspiration. He constantly says an unproven Utah team can be anything it wants to be. He preaches 100 percent effort and respect for the game, demanding the Jazz not give in to lesser temptations. Anything can happen in a lockout-shortened season. Bad teams can be good. Good teams can be great. And with every victory a scrappy Utah squad collects, Watson envisions the Jazz becoming something few ... Copyright 2011 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The basket went from looking like a sealed container to a hula hoop for Gordon Hayward in the Utah Jazz's 93-89 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Two days after dropping in a season-high 21 points against Sacramento, Hayward couldn't even make a layup in...

Gordon Hayward certainly could have been the goat Monday night after moving over to shooting guard for the Utah Jazz and tossing up nothing but bricks early. Yet the second-year pro kept playing and hustling, and it ultimately paid off in a 93-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Hayward shook off an 0-for-8 start to finish with 12 points.

Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson and guard Raja Bell are sitting out against the Portland Trail Blazers because of injury. Small forward Josh Howard, acquired as free agent after the NBA lockout ended, was set to make his first start Monday night for the Jazz. Gordon Hayward moves from small forward to shooting guard in place of Bell, and second-year pro Derrick Favors starts in place of Jefferson.

With both Dirk Notwitzki and Vince Carter out last night, the Mavs have needed a lot of help from their bench, and they got it, as Lamar Odom scored 19 points and second-year point guard Roddy Beaubois put up 22 points in their 116-101 win over the Utah Jazz.

Wesley Matthews' arrival in Portland last season helped the Trail Blazers turn around their fortunes against the Utah Jazz. Matthews tormented his former team in 2010-11, and he'll hope to do the same as these Northwest Division rivals meet for the first time this season Monday night in Salt Lake City. As an undrafted rookie two seasons ago, Matthews developed into a starter in helping Utah (11-7) capture a share of the division title and reach the Western Conference semifinals. READ MORE >>

1. Oklahoma City Only an inexplicable three-point loss to lowly Washington separates the Thunder from a 12-game winning streak. Last week: 2 2. Miami LeBron James went for 35 points and 11 rebounds against Chicago, but he still has plenty of doubters. In the final seconds, he missed both free throws in a chance to ice the game. Last week: 5. 3. Chicago The Bulls only went 2-2 last week, suffering their first home loss this season to Indiana and then blew a chance to beat the Heat in Miami without the injured Luol Deng. Last week: 1. READ MORE >>

The Dallas Mavericks will be without guard Jason Kidd for at least a week because of a strained right calf, the team confirmed Sunday, but Dirk Nowitzki returned to action Sunday night. Nowitzki was in the starting lineup for Sunday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs...

The Dallas Mavericks will be without guard Jason Kidd for at least a week because of a strained right calf, the team confirmed Sunday, although it's unclear whether Dirk Nowitzki would return for Sunday's game. Kidd was injured in Friday's game against the Utah Jazz,...

The Dallas Mavericks will be without guard Jason Kidd for at least a week because of a strained right calf, the team confirmed Sunday, and it's unclear whether Dirk Nowitzki would return for Sunday's game. Kidd was injured in Friday's game against the Utah Jazz, and the...

The stage was all set Saturday night for Jimmer Fredette, in a state where "Jimmermania" had taken hold. Instead of draining what could have been a game-winning 3-pointer for Sacramento with 4.2 seconds left, the former Brigham Young star launched an air ball. The Utah Jazz hung on for a 96-93 win over the Kings to snap a two-game losing streak.

PHILADELPHIA - Andre Iguodala recorded the eighth triple-double of his career with 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Philadelphia 76ers won their second straight game with a 95-74 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

While their offensive production leaves much to be desired, the Sacramento Kings' inability to slow opponents down seems to be of greater concern. If their recent history when visiting Utah is any indication, the Kings could be in for another long night defending their end of the court. Sacramento looks to avoid a fourth consecutive loss overall and an eighth defeat in nine road meetings with the Jazz on Saturday night. READ MORE >>

With three starters out, the Dallas Mavericks were searching for offense from other sources. Reserve guard Roddy Beaubois and slumping Lamar Odom delivered. Beaubois had a season-high 22 points and Odom added 19 points, his most since joining the Mavericks at the start of the season, to lead Dallas to a 116-101 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports Writer

Despite his team's slow start and the emergence of other teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Mavericks superstar forward Dirk Nowitzki said Dallas remains the team to beat in the NBA's Western Conference. "I haven't seen one team in the West that I'm scared...

The Dallas Mavericks seem happy they don't have to worry about any more ceremonies honoring their first NBA championship. Another disheartening defeat followed a night when the Mavericks received their rings, and they'll try to regroup Friday night as they continue to play without Dirk Nowitzki when they host the Utah Jazz. Dallas (11-8) raised its championship banner before falling behind by as many as 35 points in a season-opening loss to Miami. The Mavericks then received their rings before Wednesday's 105-90 defeat to Minnesota. READ MORE >>

Lamar Odom continues to be a mental and physical mystery for the Dallas Mavericks, and in the last two games, things have really come to a head. Two nights ago against Phoenix, Odom was benched in the first half for a sluggish start, but came back to play well in the second half.

SALT LAKE CITY - Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey knew the Utah Jazz would try to deliver a big punch early — and they did, pulling ahead by 18 points in the first quarter Wednesday night.

Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson sat out Wednesday night's game against Toronto because of an inflamed right ankle he re-injured in the team's morning shootaround. Jefferson, who leads the Jazz with 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, missed one game earlier this season with the same injury. Second-year pro Derrick Favors started against the Raptors in Jefferson's place.

The Toronto Raptors snapped what had previously been their longest current losing streak against one opponent. One night later, they face the same challenge against a different team. Coming off their first victory in just over two weeks, the visiting Raptors look to avoid a 13th consecutive loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. Not only did Toronto (5-13) snap its eight-game overall losing streak with a 99-96 win at Phoenix on Tuesday, but it ended a 14-game skid against the Suns. READ MORE >>

The shouts have been heard loud and clear, echoing off the mountains that tower over the Wasatch Front. Get rid of Devin Harris. Judging by the communication we've received on our sports radio shows, it's clear the sentiment among fans is to trade the Jazz starting point guard. Acquiring a better starting point guard is the preference, but at this point many would accept a box of day-old doughnuts or a coupon for a discounted car wash. Hold on a minute. READ MORE >>

The league churns along, people tend to forget, and rumor turns into legend turns into "fact." I'm sounding like inarticulate grandpa again, wobbling as he gives the Thanksgiving toast, but we needed to be reminded of long-ago lost context from … Continue reading ?

1. Chicago Shooting guard has been a weakness for the Bulls. In the last three games, newcomer Richard Hamilton has increased his scoring from 11, 13 and 20 points. Last week: 2. 2. Oklahoma City Not every small-market player wants the bright lights. Southern California native Russell Westbrook signed a five-year, $80 million extension. "From day one, this is the spot I wanted to be." Last week: 1 3. Orlando Dwight Howard became the first player since Kevin Willis in 1991 to post at least 21 points and 23 rebounds in two consecutive games. Last week: 5. READ MORE >>

Utah Jazz point guard Devin Harris revealed two things during an interview Saturday morning: 1) He isn't fazed by trade rumors; and 2) He knows his team's marketing slogan. After missing Friday's practice due to stomach flu, Harris rejoined his teammates in time for...

Utah fans were yelling "All Star, All Star" after Paul Millsap hit another basket in the fourth quarter. The unassuming Millsap claims he didn't even hear the chants. "I didn't even know people were chanting, you just brought it to my attention. I sure appreciate it, though," said Millsap, who scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to power the Utah Jazz past...

Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors has been fined $25,000 for throwing a ball into the stands during the third quarter of a 94-91 loss Thursday night against Dallas. The league announced the fine Saturday. The incident occurred with 24.8 seconds remaining in the third in a physical game that saw four technicals called.

The Utah Jazz are exceeding many people's expectations this season. Lately, the Minnesota Timberwolves are turning some heads as well. The Timberwolves look to win four straight for the first the first time in nearly two years when they visit the Jazz on Saturday night. A strong second half helped Minnesota to a thrilling 101-98 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Ricky Rubio hit a tying 3 with 20 seconds left and Kevin Love's 3-pointer at the buzzer capped the Timberwolves' rally from a 15-point deficit. After giving up 31 points in the first quarter, Minnesota (7-8) trailed 59-48 at the half, but slowed the Clippers after the break, holding them to 38.2 percent shooting in the second half while outscoring them 29-19 in the fourth quarter. READ MORE >>

It's the obvious question, the kind that has several answers but no one can be absolutely sure of the origin. From 1-3 to 9-4, the Jazz have enjoyed a dramatic and pleasant turnaround. So what' s the difference between the bad start to now? Pick a reason. Earl Watson singles out a point late in the loss at San Antonio, when Josh Howard committed a hard foul during garbage time. Since then the Jazz began playing with a passion that had been missing. READ MORE >>

1. Oklahoma City The numbers continue to get more impressive. The Thunder have the league's best record, have won seven consecutive games and are 6-1 at home and on the road. Last week: 3 2. Chicago In an odd statistic, the Bulls are allowing 66.8 points at home and some 30 points more on the road. Following suit, the Grizzlies put 102 points on the board in Monday's 16-point win over the visitors. Last week: 2. 3. Philadelphia. Less than one month into the season, the Sixers already own a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division. Already at 10-3, they needed 25 games to reach 10 wins last season. Last week: 7. 4. Lakers Half of their 10 wins have come against teams without winning records. The next four games - Miami, Orlando, Indiana, Clippers - are against playoff teams. Last week: 9. 5. Orlando Golden State tried fouling Dwight Howard and it didn't work (Howard tied a career-high 45 points and shot an NBA-record 39 free throws). New York tried double-teaming Howard and it didn't work (left open, Ryan Anderson made seven three-pointers and scored a career high 30 points). Last week: 11.

Despite opening the season without the faces of their respective franchises, neither the Denver Nuggets nor the Utah Jazz considered themselves to be rebuilding. So far, both have been proven right. The Northwest Division rivals will look to continue their surprising starts when they meet for the second time this season Sunday night in Denver. READ MORE >>

For more than five years, Deron Williams was the face of the Utah Jazz. He was named to two All-Star teams and led the franchise to four playoff berths, including a trip to the Western Conference finals in 2007. The Jazz were hopeful he would end his career in Utah, but his time there came to a surprising and abrupt end. Williams, who is coming off his best game since last February's stunning trade, will return to Salt Lake City for the first time Saturday night when his New Jersey Nets visit the Jazz. READ MORE >>

Early on, as an impressionable teen, Ty Corbin hatched a plan that would get his mother out of the projects and spare her from the arduous hours spent working pressing shirts at the Laundromat. Four years after graduating from high school, he would attend from college, earning a degree in computer science. From there, Corbin would matriculate into the corporate world, settling into a career that would provide enough money to buy Mary a house. In this case, mother and son loved it when a plan only partially came together. As he's done almost always through his 49 years, Corbin followed through on the goal to purchase the new house. But rather than work in his anticipated field, he traded an office for a floor, the hardwood variety on which he spent 15 years as an NBA player.

The start of a new calendar year might have been all the Utah Jazz needed to overcome their early struggles. Hoping to remain undefeated in 2012, the Jazz look for a sixth consecutive victory while trying to keep red-hot Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles Lakers winless on the road Wednesday night. Utah (6-3) did not get off to a good start to its season by shooting 32.2 percent - including 1 of 13 from 3-point range - during a 96-71 road loss to the Lakers on Dec. 27. The Jazz followed that performance by dropping two of their next three games to finish the 2011 calendar year 18-35. Since the calendar turned to January, Utah has won all five games it has played. The Jazz posted their highest point total of the season while shooting a sizzling 59.2 percent in a 113-105 home win over Cleveland on Tuesday. Al Jefferson had a season-high 30 points with 12 rebounds as Utah moved into position to start 6-0 at home for the first time since 2008-09. Jefferson, though, is not about to get caught up in a second straight strong start for the Jazz, who opened last season 15-5 only to wind up missing the playoffs. "We were here last year and let it go," Jefferson said. "That's why I'm not as excited. We play every game like we're last in the West and that's what we are going to continue to do until all is said and done. Everybody's got to keep that same attitude. We got to stay hungry." READ MORE >>

\nThe Utah Jazz just earned their first road win of the season. Winning is all they've done in Salt Lake City in 2011-12. \nLooking to extend its overall run to five games, Utah can open 5-0 at home for the first time since 2008-09 when it faces the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. \nAfter losing by an average of 19.0 points in its first three road contests, Utah (5-3) defeated Golden State 88-87 on Saturday behind a season-high 18 points from Gordon Hayward, who hit the go-ahead free throw with 11 seconds left. \nThe Jazz trailed by seven in the fourth quarter after leading by 12 less than six minutes into the game. \n"When we got down, we didn't break at all," coach Tyrone Corbin said. "The guys kept encouraging each other, 'Come on, man, we right in there.' \n"It was just great to be a part of." \nUtah is enjoying its longest win streak since a 7-0 run Nov. 20-Dec. 1, 2010, and is beginning a stretch of 10 of 12 at home. The team's last 5-0 start in Salt Lake City was in 2008-09 when it opened 6-0. READ MORE >>

PK's NBA Top 15 for week of Jan 9: Miami - No Dwyane Wade, no problem. The Heat have won three consecutive games, including one without LeBron James, with their star guard out with an injured foot. Last week: 2 Chicago - A six-game winning streak crashed in Atlanta, but the Bulls may have been a scheduled loss since they were playing their fourth game in five nights in five cities. Last week: 1. Oklahoma City - Will young legs make a difference this season? The Thunder became the first team this season to win three games on consecutive nights. Last week: 3 Portland - In their two losses, LaMarcus Aldridge has combined to shoot 15 of 35 from the field. Last week: 6. Indiana - The stated goal is unbeaten at home and .50 on the road. The Pacers are doing one better than that, having won all three home games and going 3-2 on the road. Last week: 5. READ MORE >>

Although he is sometimes labeled as selfish, Golden State's Monta Ellis has developed into one of the league's premier scorers over the past few seasons. He hasn't looked like one, however, against the Utah Jazz on the Warriors' home floor. Ellis hopes for better luck against the Jazz at Oracle Arena in 2012 in their first meeting of the season Saturday night. Ellis has finished in the top eight in scoring each of the previous two seasons, and is off to another strong start, averaging a team-high 22.8 points for Golden State (2-5). He finished with 18 points, 10 assists and five steals Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors fell 97-90, their fourth straight defeat. READ MORE >>

What was originally diagnosed as a minor injury suffered by Zach Randolph will instead sideline the Memphis Grizzlies' All-Star power forward for at least six weeks. While the Grizzlies have managed to beat two last-place teams without Randolph thus far, his absence is certain to be felt going during an upcoming difficult slate of games. Looking to win three straight for the first time this season, Memphis tries to avoid a ninth consecutive road loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night. Randolph, who entered Sunday averaging 19.0 points and 9.0 rebounds, posted just two and three, respectively, after apparently bruising his right knee in the first quarter of a 104-64 loss at Chicago. After undergoing an MRI on Tuesday, however, it was revealed Wednesday he suffered a torn MCL. "That's life," coach Lionel Hollins said. "You have to go and play. He's not going to be here. We can't worry about what ifs and what we should do to get him back. This is where we are. "This is a great opportunity for a team to show their character, show what (they're) made of, show their mental toughness because I don't think you can have success or growth without some kind of adversity." With Randolph sidelined, Memphis (3-3) defeated Pacific Division-worst Sacramento 113-96 on Tuesday and prevailed 90-86 at Northwest Division-worst Minnesota the following night. It remains to be seen, however, how the Grizzlies will fare as the competition gets tougher. Memphis, which has been outscored by an average of 16.8 points during its eight-game skid at Utah (3-3), visits the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday before hosting Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The Jazz, who defeated New Orleans 94-90 on Monday and Milwaukee 85-73 on Tuesday, are looking to open 4-0 at home for the first time in three seasons. "When we bring the energy and the crowd gets behind us, it's just kind of a snowball effect and we're able to create a run," swingman Gordon Hayward said. Al Jefferson, averaging 22.0 points on 57.4 percent shooting over his last four games, scored a season-high 26 to go along with 10 rebounds Tuesday. Fellow big man Derrick Favors also came up big, recording a career-best five of the team's season-high 12 blocks to go with six points and seven boards. "Derrick Favors was the one who set the tone ... ," Jefferson told NBA.com. "He set the tone and everybody got active. That's what it's going to take to win games." It's unknown if Jefferson and the Jazz will have to worry about facing 6-foot-10 Marreese Speights, who was acquired from Philadelphia as part of a three-team trade involving New Orleans on Wednesday. The Grizzlies sent swingman Xavier Henry to the Hornets and a 2012 second-round pick to the 76ers. "We weren't trying to get Speights to replace Zach," Hollins said."We've been trying to get a big man since we started training camp. We were really thin in the front-court area." Speights, who has yet to play in 2011-12, has averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 boards in limited minutes over the previous three seasons. After averaging just 13.3 points on 35.4 percent shooting over his first four games, forward Rudy Gay has totaled 42 on 51.5 percent from the field during the last two. Reserve guard O.J. Mayo has also picked up the pace, posting a combined 30 points during that stretch - three more than he scored during his first four contests. "Having the big fella out we definitely have to raise our focus level up a little bit more and execute better offensively," Mayo said. "Execute better defensively and try to give ourselves a chance to win every night."

Still a long way from filling out final report cards, this two-day break in the condensed schedule provides an opportunity to evaluate the Jazz. What do we know? For starters, the Jazz aren't yet good enough to compete on the road against the Western Conference's elite teams. This much was obvious during the blowout losses against the Lakers, Denver and San Antonio. And this doesn't come as news to NBA followers. Without the benefit of an adequate training camp, the Jazz weren't close to being prepared to win on the road. In time, things will change, but for now the Jazz need to find a way to keep these road games in doubt into the fourth quarter. All is not lost, however, as the 3-3 record indicates.

SALT LAKE CITY (January 4, 2012) - The NBA announced today that Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris, forwards Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap, and center Al Jefferson are featured on the 2012 NBA All-Star ballot, which was unveiled today during a special tip-off event in Orlando, Fla., the Official Host City of NBA All-Star 2012. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by Sprint begins today at 10:15 a.m. MT. The 61st NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at the Amway Center on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012.