(Sports Network) - The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers resume a four-game homestand Friday when they welcome the Utah Jazz to Staples Center.

The Lakers won their 14th straight home game and closed out 2008 on a positive note last Sunday when Kobe Bryant connected on 9-of-15 from the floor and 10- of-10 from the free throw line for a game-high 31 points as LA pounded the hapless Golden State Warriors, 130-113.

Both teams were coming off victories over Boston, as Golden State used a big fourth quarter to stun the defending champions on December 26, one day after the Lakers snapped the Celtics' 19-game winning streak.

Los Angeles kept the momentum going, however, winning its fourth straight game after hitting 51.6 percent from the floor. Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic logged 19 and 17 points, respectively, while Andrew Bynum chipped in 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Los Angeles, which is a gaudy 16-1 at Staples Center this season, will finish the homestand against Portland on Sunday.

The Jazz, meanwhile, also finished 2008 in an upbeat fashion when Deron Williams netted 27 points and dished out six assists to lead a balanced Utah attack in a 112-95 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.

Utah had five players in double figures, with Mehmet Okur posting 19 points and 10 rebounds. Andrei Kirilenko finished with 16 points and a game-high 13 boards for the Jazz, who won for the second time in three tries.

C.J. Miles had 14 points and Kyle Korver 12 for Utah, which is still without two of its better players in Carlos Boozer (strained left quad) and Paul Millsap (sprained left knee).

The team announced Boozer, who has been out since November 19 will now undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will remain on the sidelines indefinitely.

Boozer will have the surgery on January 9 because of a skin laceration that has yet to completely heal. The 27-year-old has already missed 21 consecutive games while trying to rehab but a third MRI prompted doctors to recommend the surgical procedure.

LA has won two straight and five of the past six meetings over Utah. The Lakers have also taken four straight over Utah in Hollywood and the Jazz are just 7-10 on the road this year.





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