DENVER, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Russian rookie Andrei Kirilenko and Scott Padgett each scored 21 points Wednesday night as the Utah Jazz posted their sixth straight road win, a 110-99 triumph over the Denver Nuggets.
Utah was 24-22 when it embarked on a nine-game road trip that was pivotal to its postseason hopes. The Jazz had been 8-12 on the road up until that point and things did not look good when they dropped the opening two games of the trip.
But Utah has rebounded to win its last six games and concludes its journey necessitated by the Winter Olympics on Tuesday in Sacramento. The Jazz, who have moved into sixth place in the Western Conference with their recent hot stretch, will play five straight at home once they return.
Wednesday, Utah used a team effort to dispatch Denver as six players reached double figures.
Denver, which has lost three straight, was without leading scorer Nick Van Exel, who sat out with what is listed as inflammation in his left elbow. The guard has been the subject of trade rumors as Thursday's deadline nears.
Avery Johnson led the Nuggets with 19 points and Raef LaFrentz added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
