Jazz dominate Trail Blazers for eighth straight home victory

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 27 factors, hitting six 3-pointers, to guide the Utah Jazz to a 123-85 victory over the Portland Path Blazers on Wednesday evening.

Donovan Mitchell added 16 factors whereas Royce O’Neale chipped in 11 factors and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who gained their eighth straight house sport. The Jazz loved their largest margin of victory since beating Sacramento 154-105 on April 28 final season.

“I appreciated how we moved the ball,” Utah coach Quin Snyder mentioned. “I assumed we defended.”

Trendon Watford scored a career-high 22 factors to guide the Blazers. Keon Johnson tallied a career-high 15 factors and a career-high 5 assists. CJ Elleby chipped in 10.

Portland has misplaced six straight video games because the NBA All-Star break and has been outscored by 194 factors in that stretch. The Blazers have recorded 5 30-point losses over their final six video games.

In opposition to Utah, the Blazers matched season lows for first quarter factors (15) and third quarter factors (14).

“I assumed we obtained some fairly attractiveness to be sincere with you, simply couldn’t make pictures,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups mentioned. “If we are able to’t make pictures and we are able to’t cease them, we’ve a troublesome evening.”

Eight gamers have been inactive for Portland on Wednesday, together with the Blazers’ high three scorers: Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, and Anfernee Simons. With so many key gamers sidelined, the Blazers struggled early to maintain tempo with Utah’s offense.

Portland missed 11 of its first 12 pictures and trailed by as many as 19 factors within the first quarter. Utah took a 31-12 lead within the ultimate minute of the quarter after Mike Conley capped a 15-4 run with a 3-pointer.

The Blazers trimmed the deficit to 33-21 on back-to-back jumpers from Elleby and Ben McLemore early within the second quarter, The Jazz answered with a 13-1 run to increase their result in 46-22. Jordan Clarkson fueled the run with back-to-back baskets and a pair of free throws.

Portland shot 29% from the sphere within the first half. Utah linked on 56% of its area objectives.

“Clearly, that’s an amazing defensive workforce with most likely the very best shot blocker within the league down there,” Watford mentioned. “I feel we went in just a little stoop to the place we couldn’t rating and form of let that have an effect on our protection.”

The Jazz carved out a 51-point lead within the third quarter – their largest in a sport this season. Utah went up 94-43 on a pair of free throws from Trent Forrest with 2:34 left within the quarter.

“The factor that typically occurs while you get a giant lead is that you simply modified the way you play,” Snyder mentioned. “I didn’t assume that occurred. I felt like we continued to play the precise approach on each ends.”

TIP-INS

Blazers: Elijah Hughes made his second begin for Portland since being acquired in a commerce with Utah. Hughes completed with 5 rebounds, two assists, and 0 factors in 21 minutes. … The Blazers totaled 49 factors heading into the fourth quarter, turning into the primary NBA workforce to attain fewer than 50 factors by way of three quarters this season.

Jazz: No starters performed within the fourth quarter for Utah and each lively participant on the roster performed a minimum of seven minutes. … The Jazz dedicated solely 9 turnovers.

UP NEXT

Blazers host the Washington Wizards on Saturday.

Jazz go to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.