NBA -- Jazz hope to end skid versus Mavericks

SALT LAKE -- The Utah Jazz will shoot to end a three-game slide when they travel to Dallas and face the Mavericks Friday night at the American Airlines Center.

With 16 wins against 32 losses, the Jazz languish in the bottom of the Western Conference at 15th place. To get back on the winning track, they will rely heavily on Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, who average 16.7 points and 13.5 points per game, respectively.

But beating the Mavs will be an uphill climb. The Mavericks are on a three-game winning streak after beating the Memphis Grizzlies, 110-96, Thursday night at the Fed-Ex Forum.

At 29-21, the Mavericks are in 8th place in the West. The 1-2 punch of Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis leads the team with a combined 41.4 points per game average. (PJC)