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Brewer leads Jazz over Oden-less Blazers

Oct 24, 2008 - 3:54 AM By Tony Pizza PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- Ronnie Brewer scored 22 points and Carlos Boozer chipped in 16 as the Utah Jazz overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 100-89, in the preseason finale for both teams Thursday.

Portland had six players score in double figures, including Channing Frye, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Greg Oden, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, did not play for the Blazers.

Utah started the second half with a 6-0 run, using a renewed defensive effort and a 22-8 run to tie the game at 71-71 late in the third quarter.

Kyle Korver, who finished with 15 points, hit one of his four 3-pointers with 8:57 left in the game to give Utah its first lead since it was ahead by one with 2:58 left in the first quarter. The Jazz outscored the Blazers, 51-26, in the second half.

While the rosters and the starters' minutes sure made it look like a regular-season game, Utah's listless defensive effort in the first half suggested it was still preseason. Portland shot 8-of-11 from the arc in the first 24 minutes.

Jerryd Bayless and Travis Outlaw both went 2-of-2 on 3-pointers and three other players made at least one first-half shot from the arc, allowing Portland to run out to a 63-49 halftime lead. Both Bayless and Outlaw finished with 13 points.

Utah used an 11-2 run sparked by back-to-back dunks by Brewer and C.J. Miles, who finished with nine points in his starting role.

Andrei Kirilenko came off the bench in what has widely been discussed as a new role for the Jazz's max-contract player. He had seven points, two assists, two blocks, two rebounds and a steal in his new role.

This was the Jazz's first game since losing Deron Williams for at least two weeks with an ankle sprain. Ronnie Price and Brevin Knight combined for 12 points, 13 assists and four steals in the 2008 Olympian's stead.

Utah finished the game shooting 53 percent from the floor. The Jazz's defensive effort in the second half forced the Blazers to cool considerably, as they shot 46 percent from the field - including just 1-of-6 from the arc after halftime.

All 10 players that entered the game for Utah scored at least two points.