• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Harris, Hayward lead Jazz past Blazers

Apr 19, 2012 - 6:39 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Devin Harris netted 27 points, Gordon Hayward added 23 and the Utah Jazz never trailed in a 112-91 dismantling of the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Alec Bucks supplied 17 points off the bench and Al Jefferson contributed an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in Utah's second straight victory.

With losses by Houston and Phoenix on Wednesday, the Jazz moved a half-game clear of those teams for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, having played one more game.

"We got three games at home, where we play well," Harris said of the team's upcoming schedule. "We put ourselves in a nice position, but we still have to play the games."

Wesley Matthews paced the Trail Blaers with 21 points as they lost their fourth in a row.

"Bad team defense tonight, we didn't rotate and it cost us the game," Portland forward J.J. Hickson said.

Utah led 26-23 after one and broke the game open with a 31-point second quarter.

Harris scored 11 points and the visitors shot almost 53 percent from the field in the second stanza, while holding Portland to just 31.9 percent shooting and 16 points in the frame.

A 10-2 run in the final minutes of the first half gave the Jazz a 57-39 lead at intermission, and they led by double-digits from that point forward.

Utah made 9-of-10 attempts from the line in the third quarter to maintain its advantage, and Jazz reserves conbined for 28 points in the final stanza as they led by as many as 27.

Game Notes

Utah shot 47.5 percent (38-of-80) from the field. Portland was held to 39.2 percent (31-of-79)...It was last home game of the season for Portland, and the last road game for Utah.