Collin Sexton led with 27 points, and Simone Fonteccio added 24, propelling the Utah Jazz to a 122-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers during Thursday’s NBA action.
Despite being shorthanded, the Jazz led by as many as 33 points in the second half, even without Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson, or Keyonte George available to play. Fonteccio displayed exceptional shooting, hitting 7 of 8 from the field, including a perfect 5 for 5 from the three-point line.
Utah coach Will Hardy praised the team’s cohesive performance, especially in defense, and the effective movement of the ball in offense, which he felt contributed to the team’s energy.
“I thought everyone was very connected, especially defensively,” Hardy said. “And then offensively, I thought the ball moved around great tonight. I think you see what happens to the collective energy when everyone feels like they’re involved.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz Updates
For the Trail Blazers, who face a challenging period with their fifth consecutive loss, Scoot Henderson stood out with a career-high 23 points and 10 assists. Rookie forward Toumani Camara also had a notable performance, setting a personal best with 18 points. Deandre Ayton returned from a knee injury, finishing with 14 points and 9 rebounds.
The Jazz’s shooting was notably efficient, with a 53.3% success rate from the field compared to Portland’s 41.7%. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups expressed frustration with the team’s defensive effort, emphasizing their goal to be a defense-first team and the need to maintain their identity regardless of offensive successes.
“Defensively, we were horrible,” Billups said. “We’re trying to establish ourselves as a defense-first team, and I think it’s been a couple of games when we get some of our offensive players back, and it looks sweet and cute when we make shots. But that’s not who we are. That’s not who we’re trying to be.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz Updates
Utah maintained their substantial lead until the final quarter, when both teams brought in their reserves, allowing Portland to reduce the deficit to eight. The win against Portland marks Utah’s second consecutive victory, following a win over the New York Knicks.
Looking ahead, the Jazz are set to play the Kings in Sacramento, while the Trail Blazers will face the Dallas Mavericks at home in their next games.
