<div align="center"><font color="Navy">Utah Jazz</font> (14-27) @ <font color="Green">Seattle SuperSonics (27-11) </font></div> When: Sunday 23rd January, 9:00 PM (EST) Where: Key Arena Local TV: FSN-SEA / FSN National TV: NBATVHighDef <div align="center">Likely Starters <font color="Navy">Jazz</font> <font size="1">Keith McLeod, Gordan Giricek, Matt Harpring, Carlos Boozer, Curtis Borcahrdt</font></div> <div align="center"><font color="Green">Sonics</font></div> <div align="center"> <font size="1">Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Reggie Evans, Jerome James</font></div> Injured List <font color="Navy">Jazz:</font> Kirk Snyder, Jarron Collins <font color="Green">Sonics:</font> Damien Wilkins, Robert Swift, Mateen Cleaves Key Matchup Gordan Giricek vs. Ray Allen Gordan Giricek will have his hands full guarding Ray Allen. Allen is a great shooter, and Giricek isn't the greatest of defenders. Giricek just can't let Allen get going, especially from beyond the arc. Prediction The Jazz had a lengthy break in the schedule recently, and still failed to get the W and lost big. The Sonics are another good team, and the Jazz should struggle to keep up with them, unless they can play a good game, as Utah are very inconsistent. Sonics by 8
Sonics 3 pointers - 13/22 That's about all that needs to be said. Every single time the Jazz made a worthwhile run to within 6 or 8, the Sonics came back and nailed a couple three's. They were mocking the Jazz.
AK led a pretty good run there late in the 3rd to help cut the lead to 4 heading into the 4th but...the usual problem happened, they melted down the first few minutes of the 4th period and are never able to recover. It's like that pretty much every game now...(Grizzlies game this happened as well).
Utah's defense was poor yet again. They really need to look to sign a defensive stopper in the offseason, and another Point Guard. Andrei Kirilenko isn't getting enough minutes too make any real impact defensively, and his speed isn't up to scratch yet. Rashard Lewis really took advtantage of Kirilenko's somewhat rusty play, scoring 36, although AK47 did only play 14 minutes. Utah did a horrible job of defending the 3 point shot, Seattle made 13 3 pointers and shot 59% from 3, the same as their field goals . To make it worse, Keith McLeod got an injury late in the game and isn't expected to play Wednesday.