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Washington • With memories of the Milwaukee meltdown still fresh in their minds, the Jazz will try to snap their three-game losing streak tonight against a Wizards team that has been as hot as any in the league over the last seven games.
The mood was "where it should be," Jazz coach Ty Corbin said Wednesday morning, two days after the Jazz were blowout by the last-place Bucks. "We're not happy losing games. We're definitely not happy losing the way we lost in Milwaukee. But this tam has shown a lot of pride and resilience all year long. We expect to see a great effort tonight."
The Jazz arrived in Washington early Tuesday and spent the day away from the basketball court, instead opting for a tour of the U.S. Capitol and a visit with Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Their hosts for tonight won't be so welcoming.
The Washington Wizards have won six of their last seven games. The surge has pushed them above .500 and into the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Jazz rookie point guard Trey Burke will have to try to handle the speed of All-Star John Wall. And while the Wizards will be without Nene and Kevin Seraphin, the Jazz will still have a difficult task in trying to contain Marcin Gortat and the suddenly surging Trevor Ariza, who went off for 40 points last week in Philadelphia.
The Jazz have no one on their injury report.
This will be the second and final meeting between these teams this season. Earlier this year, the Jazz beat the Wizards in Salt Lake City, coming back from a 13-point second-quarter deficit to win 104-101. —
Jazz at Wizards
Wednesday, 5 p.m.
TV: ROOT Sports