SALT LAKE CITY — Through three quarters Thursday night, it appeared as though the Utah Jazz would cruise past the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Arena.
The Jazz offense was excellent in those first 36 minutes, as it scored 96 points to build a 20-point lead, albeit against a Trail Blazers defense that was pretty porous.
But then as has happened numerous times this season, Utah gave up almost the entire lead, and held just a one-point advantage with 4:40 to play. This time, the Jazz made the necessary plays down the stretch, and came away with a 121-115 victory, the sixth in their last seven games.
Donovan Mitchell and former Weber State guard Damian Lillard went at it down the stretch, with Mitchell scoring 10 points to Lillard’s seven in the last 4:40. Mitchell finished with 35 to Lillard’s 34.
For all of Mitchell’s heroics, Rudy Gobert made two huge plays in the final minutes. First, he saved a ball from going out of bounds that he knocked out to Bojan Bogdanovic for a 3-pointer to put Utah up 112-107 with 1:45 to go. Then, he played excellent defense on Carmelo Anthony as the Jazz clung to a 115-112 lead inside of 30 seconds to play, forcing a virtually impossible shot, and Utah controlled things from there.
“Those two hustle plays by Rudy really sealed the game,” Mitchell said. “You can say what you want about my scoring and Joe (Ingles) and whatnot, but at the end of the day, it came down to Rudy making two big plays. That’s why he is who is who he is and that’s why we rely on him.”
View Comments
All three of those players plus Bojan Bogdanovic finished in double figures on the night Jordan Clarkson made his debut for the Jazz after getting traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers for Dante Exum.
Acquired by Utah to help boost its paltry bench, Clarkson led Utah’s second unit with nine points on 4-of-12 shooting with a steal in 21 minutes.
“I felt real comfortable,” said Clarkson, who entered the contest with 4:05 to play in the first quarter and made his first shot attempt a minute later. (Head coach Quin Snyder) told me to just play my game...I’m just happy for the opportunity to play and compete.”
Up next for the Jazz is a road game Saturday against the LA Clippers.
1 of 26
Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles (2) celebrates a basket against Portland Trail Blazers guard Kent Bazemore (24) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
2 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks the shot by Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
3 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks over the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
4 of 26
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder calls a play in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
5 of 26
Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) protests a call in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
6 of 26
Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) fight for the ball in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
7 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) comes off the court with praise from Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
8 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) defends Portland Trail Blazers forward Skal Labissiere (17) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
9 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
10 of 26
Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (00) posts up with Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
11 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiay (8) looks to pass by Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
12 of 26
Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) drives by Portland Trail Blazers center Hassan Whiteside (21) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
13 of 26
Fans dress up for the holidays in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
14 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots over the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
15 of 26
Emily Lund watches Utah Jazz pregame activities with her son Hendricks in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
16 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) is fouled in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
17 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
18 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) drives on Portland Trail Blazers forward Skal Labissiere (17) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
19 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) signs autographs after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
20 of 26
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Portland Trail Blazers forward Skal Labissiere (17) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
21 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) complains about a no call in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
22 of 26
Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder watches the Jazz lead disappear in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
23 of 26
Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang (31), Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) celebrate a point near the end of game with the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
24 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives on Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
25 of 26
Utah Jazz center Ed Davis (17) looks to pass as Portland Trail Blazers forward Skal Labissiere (17) defends in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
26 of 26
Utah Jazz guard Emmanuel Mudiay (8) drives on Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (1) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019. Utah won 121-115. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.