Jazz-Raptors Preview

Kyle Lowry may be eager to get back on the court after sitting out following a career-best, 43-point performance.

The Utah Jazz are probably looking forward to facing Lowry's Toronto Raptors after being forced into a faster tempo that isn't quite their forte their last time out.

Lowry is expected to return Wednesday night as the Raptors seek to establish a franchise record with their 11th straight overall home victory.

The All-Star guard helped Toronto (39-19) post a 10th straight home win to set a single-season mark with the highest scoring effort of his career in Friday's 99-97 win over Cleveland. Coach Dwane Casey opted to rest Lowry two days later since he had played every game and logged the most minutes on the team.

The result was a 114-101 defeat at Detroit that ended a four-game win streak. The Raptors trailed by as many as 26 points in a game that was tied at halftime.

''To be a good team in this league, you have to be able to handle success, and we just embarrassed ourselves trying to do that,'' Casey said. ''We didn't come out with any defensive disposition. That has nothing to do with Kyle. He doesn't change anyone's defensive focus.''

Lowry said the move was for the "long term," although not to keep him fresh for the postseason in his mind.

"I'm not really worried about long term, long term, the championship, I'm just worried about the next week coming up," Lowry said. "The next game is Utah so be ready and be sharp for that game."

Toronto's previous 10-game overall home win streak comprised of an eight-game run to close 2001-02 and the first two of the following season.

With Lowry running the offense, the Raptors play at one of the league's slowest tempos with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes.

No one plays slower than the Jazz (28-31) at 93.4. Utah fell 100-95 on Monday at Boston, which is the Eastern Conference's fastest team at 101.5 possessions per 48 minutes.

The action may have played out a little faster than Utah liked since its 101 field-goal attempts was its most in a regulation game. The club averages 80.7 shots.

The Jazz, losers of three straight, had captured 11 of their last 16 against East foes before falling Saturday to lowly Brooklyn 98-96 at home. They opened a four-game trip by shooting 37.6 percent.

''I think these last two (losses) have been pretty deflating for us,'' forward Gordon Hayward said. ''We got to find a way to pick ourselves up. We got three more tough games on this trip."

Utah is 1-3 since Shelvin Mack, Hayward's college teammate at Butler, joined the starting lineup after being acquired from Atlanta on Feb. 18.

Reserve forward Trevor Booker is expected to rejoin the Jazz on Wednesday after he left the team so he could attend his grandmother's funeral in South Carolina.

The Raptors signed former Sacramento and Golden State forward Jason Thompson on Tuesday. Thompson was waived by the Warriors on Feb. 22 after he was primarily a starter for the Kings in his first seven seasons.

"We are pleased to add a player like Jason who has logged quality minutes in more than 500 career games," team president Masai Ujiri said.

Toronto had taken four straight over Utah before a 93-89 loss Nov. 18. The Jazz overcame 17 turnovers behind Derrick Favors' 18 points and 11 boards.