Utah Jazz: Streaking Jazz look to avoid season sweep by Nuggets

SALT LAKE CITY — The surging Utah Jazz have already clinched the season series against Dallas, San Antonio and Portland.

They've also claimed victories against elite teams such as Cleveland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Lakers.

That success just might come in handy in the playoffs.

One NBA team the Jazz, winners of seven straight, have played but haven't beaten yet this year? OK, not counting Atlanta, Boston, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City?

(And, no, the answer isn't Minnesota.)

It just so happens to be tonight's opponent. So far, the Jazz are oh-for-Denver in 2009-10.

Three tries.

And three losses against their rivals from the other side of the Rockies.

"They've had our number this year," said Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer, who hopes to play after missing three games with a strained right calf.

"They've been able to kick our butt pretty good," Boozer added. "For a consolation, we want to be able to at least get one win against this team."

Forget for a moment the division and playoff implications for wanting that one win in this important game at EnergySolutions Arena.

Now consider this: The Jazz need this one win to avoid the historical ramifications that would accompany one more loss.

"They already have the tiebreaker over us," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "So we can't let them sweep us."

It would be a first.

Since 1976, Denver has won eight season series against Utah (including this year). The Jazz have won 20 season series over that span, and they split six. But the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets have never pulled out the brooms against this franchise.

Granted, the Jazz only won once a season the first three years the teams squared off between 1976-78 when the franchise was in New Orleans. Likewise, Utah picked up just one victory in the 1995-96 and 2003-04 campaigns.

But the Nuggets are one of five NBA teams that have never swept the Jazz.

"Never?" a surprised Williams said. "We don't want that to happen, and hopefully we can get this."

A victory tonight not only would give Denver a 4-0 season sweep, it'd also give the Nuggets bragging rights that even the Los Angeles Clippers can already claim.