DALLAS — With losses at locales including Miami, New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, there is no debating that the Jazz have had their share of woes on the road this season.

That is especially the case when it comes to the NBA's lower-level teams, as Utah has 13 road losses to teams not holding a playoff position as of today.

Yet the Jazz ended a two-game road losing skid with Tuesday night's win at Western Conference-leading New Orleans, prompting hope for Jazz coach Jerry Sloan that perhaps the trend's tide is turning.

That notion will be put to the test tonight, when Northwest Division-leading Utah — 52-26 overall this season, but just 17-22 away from EnergySolutions Arena — visits the playoff-positioned Dallas Mavericks.

The game is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. MDT.

"We've got a young team that's got to learn how to win wherever we are," Sloan said.

"As this team gets a little bit more mature, they have to learn how to do that," he added. "Now is as good a time as any to try to do it."

The Northwest Division-champion Jazz, winners of four in a row overall, start the day with the sixth-best record in the NBA's Western Conference, trailing New Orleans (55-23), San Antonio, Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers (all 53-25) and Phoenix (53-26).

Meanwhile, Dallas (49-29) can clinch a playoff berth tonight with a win over the Jazz and a Golden State loss to Denver.

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com