-- The Jazz can feel their swagger coming back after knocking off the top two teams in the Eastern Conference in consecutive games.

Wednesday"s 99-86 victory over the Boston Celtics at the Delta Center wasn"t exactly a work of art - the Jazz committed 17 turnovers and allowed the Celtics to sink 13 3-pointers - but coming on the heels of a victory in New Jersey last weekend, they sense things are beginning to turn their way.

""If we can gain some confidence and believe we can play with anybody in the league," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said, ""we"ll be OK."

The victory leaves the Jazz with a 14-15 record, yet again on the brink of reaching .500 for the first time all season. The Jazz play in Portland tonight.

""It will be nice to get to .500," Jazz star Karl Malone said, ""and then see what happens."

Malone had a relatively quiet 17-point night as the Celtics sent a lot of attention his way.