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Milwaukee • The Utah Jazz know they are fighting for the right to host the first round of the playoffs.

But that's not what they will tell you.

On the record, the Jazz will admit they are in position to reach their first postseason in the Quin Snyder era. They will also note there is plenty of work to be done as the second half of the regular season officially begins. And that starts with a three-game trip with games in two time zones.

"This road trip is a big test for us," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said. "There's definitely no starting off slow. We have to start off strong, and play well and play defense, especially with the way the West is."

On paper, the current three game trip — which goes through the Washington Wizards on Sunday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday — didn't seem as daunting in December.

But then, the Wizards suddenly turned into one of the best teams in the NBA since January, and the Thunder became a trade deadline winner by acquiring Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott from the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.

Now, the trip has turned into a beast for the Jazz, and one that could set the tone for March and April in a positive or negative way.

"It's a scary road test for us," Hayward said. "But it's a big opportunity as well. All three of these teams can put it on us, if we're not careful. So we definitely have to play well."

Counting Friday, the schedule isn't forgiving for the Jazz. They have 25 games remaining in the regular season. Fourteen of those games are against current playoff teams, which makes for a tough end of the year.

"This is the time of year where we want the players to take ownership and emphasize good habits," Snyder said. "We want to get to another level as coaches and players. We know the schedule is challenging for us, so we know what's ahead."

Back in the saddle

Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood played on Friday night and was in the starting lineup. Hood had been out with a bone contusion in his knee, following a scary fall in a win over the Orlando Magic on Jan. 14.

The third-year man out of Duke briefly returned, following the initial injury. But he hyperextended the same knee in an earlier win over the Bucks at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

More changes

The Bucks on Thursday made trade deadline headlines, shipping oft-traveled big man Roy Hibbert to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future second round pick. Hibbert — known to Jazz fans for an altercation last year with former Utah forward Trevor Booker — began this season with the Charlotte Hornets. The Bucks acquired Hibbert in a trade for Miles Plumlee.

Twitter: @tribjazz