(Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jazz players sign mini basketballs during Jazz media day in Salt Lake City, Friday, December 9, 2011.

Tonight: Surprising Jazz host Toronto

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Jan 25 2012 08:19 am • Last Updated Jan 25 2012 09:20 am

With dire predictions all around prior to the start of the shortened NBA season, no one would have predicted that the Utah Jazz would be among the playoff contenders.

At 10-5, including Saturday’s victory against visiting Minnesota, the Jazz now have their eyes on another home game, this time with the Toronto Raptors (4-13).

And, good news for Utah, forward Josh Howard said he is "probable" for Wednesday’s 7 p.m. game against Toronto at EnergySolutions Arena.

Howard has missed four straight games with a strained quad. He went through a full practice on Monday " ... and it went well. Hopefully that’s a good sign. No ill effects."

Toronto’s reserves scored a season-high 58 points Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Clippers, which included a team-high 19 points from guard Leandro Barbosa. In six games without forward Andrea Bargnani, Barbosa is averaging a team-best 16.5 points.

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