But don't expect the Jazz to leave Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer on the bench to rest up for the playoffs when they meet the Houston Rockets in the regular-season finale tonight at EnergySolutions Arena - even though the game means nothing in the NBA standings.

"You play the game and do everything you can to try to win," coach Jerry Sloan said. "I don't know how else to try to do it."

Tonight's game would have featured the intensity of a playoff game had the Rockets not already clinched the home-court advantage against the Jazz in their playoff series that starts next weekend. Instead, it figures to be a halfhearted exercise in reaching the final buzzer without getting hurt.

"Nobody wants to get injured in the last game of the season," forward Andrei Kirilenko said.

Many teams that already have faced similar situations - the San Antonio Spurs, for example, and the Dallas Mavericks - have elected to rest some of their top players, in the hope of rejuvenating them for the playoff games that really matter. The Rockets might choose to do the same with superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, who both have strained against injuries this season.

Yet not only is Sloan naturally offended by that notion - "you think these people want to pay $200, $300 for a ticket and watch guys that are supposed to play not even play?" he said - but the Jazz probably need every chance they can get to play at full strength to try to rediscover their early-season magic in time to avoid an early exit from the playoffs.

The Jazz have lost 12 of their last 19 games, and only two days ago enjoyed finally playing with their best lineup again, with Kirilenko and guard Gordan Giricek returning from injury absences.

"We've got to do everything we can to be ready to play these guys, whether it's here or down there, or whatever the case may be," Sloan said. "The most important thing is to try to get yourself mentally ready to try to compete against them."

Especially since the Rockets are rolling.

Having won 16 of their last 21 games, the Rockets also are 30-11 when McGrady and Yao are both healthy and playing together. They impressively held off the charging Phoenix Suns 120-117 on Monday to clinch the home-court advantage, and McGrady has averaged 32.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in five games since sitting out a game with a stiff lower back.

"I'm not in their locker room, so I don't know how they're going to approach the game," the Jazz's Deron Williams said. "I know how we're going to approach it. We're going to approach it like it's another game. . . . We want another win."

That would give them 51 for the season, and perhaps enough momentum to make up for losing the home-court advantage - something without which they have not won a playoff series since 1996.

"I would hope our guys come to play hard," Sloan said. "That's what I've expected all along. . . . Houston can do what they want and they have their own ideas and that's fine. I have to do what I think is best."

mcl@sltrib.com

Jazz vs. Rockets

At EnergySolutions Arena

Tipoff: 7 p.m., today

TV: KJZZ

Radio: 1320 AM, 101.1 FM

Records: Jazz 50-31, Rockets 52-29

Season Series: Jazz lead, 2-1

All-Time Series: Jazz lead, 86-71

At Utah: Jazz lead, 53-24

Streak: Jazz won 1

Last Meeting: Jazz 86, Rockets 83 (April 1)

Line: Jazz by 4

About the Jazz: Coming off their most lopsided win of the season, they're hoping to beat the Rockets for the seventh time in eight games at home. . . . F Matt Harpring is expected to play, despite missing practice Tuesday with flu-like symptoms. . . . They have held the Rockets under 100 points 10 times in the last 12 meetings.

About the Rockets: Riding a season-best five-game road winning streak, they are only 8-24 at EnergySolutions Arena. . . . F Tracy McGrady and C Yao Ming combine to average nearly 50 points and 15 rebounds per game, but might not see much - if any - action in the last game before the playoffs.

Ups and downs

* Started season 12-1, including an eight-game win streak between Nov. 10-24.

* Averaged 108.3 ppg during those first 13 games.

* Won six straight games between Jan. 31-Feb. 14, including defeats of playoff-bound San Antonio, Phoenix, Chicago and Cleveland.

* Won six straight games between Feb. 28-March 10.

* Set season highs for points (130) and margin of victory (37) in Monday's win against Portland.

* November win streak ended with back-to-back losses to Golden State and Orlando, in which Jazz scored 78 and 75 points, respectively.

* Lost four straight games between Jan. 9-15, allowing 115.8 ppg.

* During four-game losing streak in March they scored just 84.3 ppg.

* Lost seven of nine games between March 30-April 14.

* During their recent five-game losing streak, opponents shot .495 from the three-point line.