In the past five seasons, few teams in the NBA have been on opposites sides of the court more than the Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz. The teams have squared off 28 times heading into today's tipoff of their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series.

That number could reach 35 in the next fortnight, if it goes the distance. Certainly, the Kings, who are seeded third in the West, would like to dispatch the No. 6 Jazz much quicker. Then again, with a goofy schedule that includes a five-day break between Games 2 and 3, it won't be much earlier.