Final
Jazz visit suddenly reeling Trail Blazers
Feb 21, 2014 - 3:13 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Mired in a season-high three-game slide, the Portland Trail Blazers look to get on track Friday with the Utah Jazz in town.The Blazers suffered a 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in the opener of the homestand, as Damian Lillard's 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting went to waste.
Mo Williams and Wesley Matthews scored 19 and 18 points, respectively, for Portland, which had won four straight against the Spurs and made just 45.2 percent of its shots. Robin Lopez had 11 points and 14 rebounds in defeat.
"We tried to beat San Antonio at their game and they did it better than us," Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said. "We didn't do enough defensively to get the win."
Dorell Wright filled in for injured All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge (groin) and registered 10 points and five rebounds. Aldridge is expected to miss a few games because of the problem and leads Portland in points (23.9) and rebounds (11.4). It was his first missed game since last April.
The Blazers have lost four of five games and are 19-7 at home. They will end the residency Sunday versus Minnesota. Nicolas Batum, who had eight points, five boards and five assists versus the Spurs, is questionable Friday because of an illness.
Utah hopes to get on track Friday after having a three-game winning streak cut short with Wednesday's 105-99 loss to Brooklyn.
Alec Burks led the Jazz with 23 points, Enes Kanter had 18 and 10 rebounds and Trey Burke ended with 14 points and 10 assists.
"I'm just being aggressive. I feel like everybody's supposed to be aggressive. I'm just trying to do my role for the team," Burks said.
Marvin Williams tallied 12 points in the loss, Utah's fifth in eight tries. It didn't help the Jazz that they committed 18 turnovers for 22 Brooklyn points. The Jazz made 45.1 percent from the floor.
The Jazz have a 7-19 road ledger this season and will return to Salt Lake City Saturday for three straight games versus Minnesota, Boston and Phoenix.
In injury news for Utah, forward Derrick Favors is not expected to play Friday because of a balky hip. He did not play versus the Nets and is averaging 12.9 points and 9.0 rebounds this season.
Utah is 0-2 against the Northwest rival Blazers this season, but has won seven of the previous 10 contests in this series. The Blazers are first in the NBA in scoring at 107.9 ppg, while the Jazz are averaging just 94.4 ppg.
Feb 22 12:14 AM- 154
roots - UTAH: 73
PORTLAND: 64
End of 3rd
Feb 21 11:38 PM - UTAH: 39
PORTLAND: 43
Halftime
Feb 21 10:58 PM - UTAH: 15
PORTLAND: 16
End of 1st
Feb 21 10:31 PM - UTAH: 2
PORTLAND: 0
1st Quarter - 11:39
Feb 21 10:11 PM
Related News
- Sharpe, Ayton Questionable Against Kings Dec 25
- How Long Will It Take the Trail Blazers to Be Good Again? Dec 25
- What Was Your Biggest Trail Blazers Disappointment of 2023? Dec 25
- What’s Your Biggest Trail Blazers Joy This Year? Dec 25
- How Is the Moda Center Experience This Season? Dec 25
- A Christmas Gift for the Portland Trail Blazers Dec 25
- NBA Christmas Day Schedule Open Thread Dec 25
- The 12 Highlights of Trail Blazers Christmas Dec 24
- Favale: Trail Blazers Need to Clear Runway More for Youth Dec 24
- Send Your Questions for Tuesday’s Blazers vs. Kings Game! Dec 24
- Tyler Herro is NOT the Coal in Joe Cronin’s Stocking this Christmas Dec 24
- Billups: Warriors ‘Kicked our Butts’ on Rebounds Dec 24