Trail Blazers Roll Past Jazz 112-90 Behind Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard

The Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from their first loss of the season in a hurry. Deni Avdija scored 24 points, Damian Lillard added 22, and Portland beat the Utah Jazz 112-90 on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City, according to the Associated Press.

The win moved Portland to 4-1. Utah has now lost four straight games.

Who won Trail Blazers vs. Jazz?

Portland won 112-90, and it was never really close after the first quarter. The Blazers held Utah scoreless for nearly six minutes in the opening period during a 17-0 run, and Jrue Holiday’s free throws made it 23-7 with 3:29 left in the first, AP reported.

Portland led 59-42 at halftime and pushed the lead to 26 points in the third quarter. The Jazz never mounted a serious challenge in the second half.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz player stats

Here are the key numbers reported by AP:

• Deni Avdija, Portland: 24 points, including 19 in the first half, when he went 10 for 11 from the free-throw line
• Damian Lillard, Portland: 22 points
• Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, Portland: 14 points each
• Darryn Peterson, Utah: 16 points for the rookie
• Lauri Markkanen, Utah: 13 points on 3-for-14 shooting in his return from a sprained wrist
• Keyonte George, Utah: 8 points, well below his team-leading 24.4 average

The full box score is available on NBA.com.

Why did the Jazz struggle?

Ball security and shooting. Utah turned the ball over 20 times, a problem that has followed the team through the early season, and Portland at one point forced four straight turnovers in the third quarter. The Jazz shot 37.1% from the field, their lowest mark of the season, and failed to reach 103 points for the first time this year.

Markkanen and George combined to miss their first nine shots as Portland built its early cushion. The Blazers also won the rebounding battle 48-37.

Who was missing for Portland?

The Blazers were thin in the backcourt. Ja Morant strained his hamstring against Memphis on Thursday and is not expected back before Thanksgiving, and Shaedon Sharpe is out until the spring after knee surgery, according to AP. Portland still cruised behind its defense and the scoring of Avdija and Lillard.

Jazz vs. Trail Blazers: what’s next?

Both teams play Monday night. Portland visits the Denver Nuggets, while Utah travels to face the San Antonio Spurs as it tries to snap its losing streak.

For Portland, the bigger takeaway is how quickly it responded to Thursday’s loss to Memphis. A 4-1 start without two key guards is a strong opening for the Blazers. For Utah, the turnover issue remains the clearest thing to fix, along with getting Markkanen back into rhythm after his wrist injury.

FAQ