Utah Jazz: It all comes down to last 10 games

And then there were 10.

Ten games over 16 nights left, that is, in the Jazz's 2008-09 NBA regular season.

The sprint to the finish starts tonight at EnergySolutions Arena against the New York Knicks, with four games coming at home and six on the road. All four in Utah are against clubs that will not be taking part in the playoffs this year, and all six away games are against Western Conference teams that do appear headed for postseason play.

By the time the run is done, point guard Deron Williams hopes, the 45-27 Jazz will be sitting pretty.

"We just went on a 12-game win streak," Williams said after Utah beat Phoenix in overtime on Saturday night, marking the Jazz's fourth victory in their last five games. "We can win 10."

The optimistic boast, however, does not come without a healthy dose of proper perspective.

"We've got some tough, tough basketball games — at home, on the road," Williams said after Utah improved to 2-2 when playing one or more overtime periods this season. "So, we've got our work cut out for us. But it's a good test to see where we're at.

"You know," he added, "if we get through these games and move up, then we're ready for the playoffs."

That in mind, a look at the 10 that remain:

10. MONDAY NIGHT VS. NEW YORK

The Knicks ended Utah's five-game win streak and handed the Jazz their first loss of the season back on Nov. 9 at Madison Square Garden. Carlos Boozer had a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double in the loss, which prompted Williams' premature return from a sprained ankle sustained in the preseason.

Guard Jamal Crawford, traded less than two weeks later to Golden State for big man Al Harrington, had a game-high 32 points for New York.

9. TUESDAY AT PORTLAND

The Jazz took both games at home against Portland, one in early November and another in December. But the Trail Blazers won 122-108 on Jan. 31 at Portland, where Utah played without injured Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko but got 35 points in 38 minutes from an ill Williams.

If the Jazz are to win a third straight Northwest Division title, they'll have to not only overtake leader Denver, but leapfrog the Blazers as well.

8. THURSDAY AT DENVER