Final
  for this game

Jazz-Trail Blazers Preview

Jan 12, 2016 - 7:11 PM The Utah Jazz are after their longest win streak of the season with Rudy Gobert back patrolling the middle. It'll be no easy task against Portland's high-scoring backcourt.

With Derrick Favors likely a game-time decision, the visiting Jazz will try to win three straight for the first time Wednesday night with their second victory in three meetings against the Trail Blazers.

Utah (17-20) certainly seemed to miss Gobert while he was sidelined 18 games due to a sprained left MCL. The club allowed an average of 100.8 points on 46.3 percent shooting while going 7-11 without the 7-foot-1 center, who leads the team with 9.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

The Jazz, however, are 2-0 since he returned to the starting lineup. Gobert had seven blocks while helping Utah limit Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers to an average of 78.5 points and a 36.8 field-goal percentage. The Jazz are 10-6 while holding foes to 91.7 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting when he starts.

Favors, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.8 per game, could return after missing 10 games because of a back injury. Alec Burks, though, isn't expected to return before the All-Star break following ankle surgery, and Dante Exum hasn't played after suffering an ACL tear in August.

"We've been going through adversity. But this group, we never quit. We're just going to keep fighting," Gobert said. "The good thing (about) the coaches is that they don't give up on us."

Gordon Hayward has carried the load offensively, totaling 59 points in the past two games. He scored 25 on Sunday when Utah snapped a seven-game road skid with an 86-74 win over the Lakers at Staples Center.

Coach Quin Snyder's club is bracing for a more difficult challenge as it seeks its first three-game win streak since March 28-April 1. Portland star Damian Lillard enters the third meeting on a tear after totaling 71 points, 14 3-pointers and 19 assists over his last two games.

The point guard finished with 31 points, a career high-tying eight 3s - including five in the last 3:07 - nine assists and seven rebounds, while backcourt mate C.J. McCollum scored 22 in Sunday's 115-110 home win over Oklahoma City that snapped a three-game losing streak.

"You just keep competing," coach Terry Stotts said after his team made a season-high 19 3s on a franchise-record 44 attempts. "It was a rough week, no question, and we knew it was going to be a rough week. To come out and get a win against one of the top teams... I'm happy for our guys."

Portland (16-24) has allowed an average of 108.8 points in its last six games, though Stotts said he did like some of the things the team did defensively Sunday. The Blazers didn't make things difficult enough on the Jazz in a 109-96 loss in Salt Lake City in the most recent meeting Dec. 31.

Utah's Trey Burke had 27 points, Hayward added 23 and Hood scored 18. McCollum finished with 32 points and six 3-pointers for Portland, which did not have Lillard due to plantar fasciitis.

Lillard led the way with 35 points and McCollum had 27 in a 108-92 road win Nov. 4. Hayward scored 19 for the Jazz, while Burke contributed 17 off the bench.

Utah snapped a three-game losing streak at Portland with a 111-105 victory April 11.








  • UTAH: 85
    PORTLAND: 99
    Final

    Mar 14 6:57 PM


  • End of 4th Quarter.

    Jan 14 12:18 AM


  • UTAH: 85
    PORTLAND: 99
    Final

    Jan 14 12:18 AM


  • End of 3rd Quarter.

    Jan 13 11:49 PM


  • UTAH: 62
    PORTLAND: 77
    End of 3rd

    Jan 13 11:49 PM


  • End of 1st Half.

    Jan 13 11:10 PM


  • UTAH: 37
    PORTLAND: 43
    Halftime

    Jan 13 11:10 PM
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    Jazz 28, Trail Blazers 31  2nd - 5:12Jan 13 10:50 PM
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    Jazz 24, Trail Blazers 25  2nd - 9:26Jan 13 10:42 PM
  • 49
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    Jazz 21, Trail Blazers 21  2nd - 11:05Jan 13 10:39 PM


  • UTAH: 19
    PORTLAND: 18
    End of 1st

    Jan 13 10:36 PM


  • UTAH: 19
    PORTLAND: 18
    End of 1st

    Jan 13 10:36 PM
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    Jazz 17, Trail Blazers 18  1st - 1:07Jan 13 10:35 PM


  • End of 1st Quarter.

    Jan 13 10:35 PM


  • Rudy Gobert vs. Mason Plumlee (Raulzinho Neto gains possession)

    Jan 13 10:13 PM


  • UTAH: 0
    PORTLAND: 0
    1st Quarter - 12:00

    Jan 13 10:13 PM
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    Jazz vs. Trail BlazersJan 13 5:29 PM
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    Jazz vs. Trail BlazersOct 23 9:31 AM
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    Jazz vs. Trail BlazersAug 13 8:32 AM