----- Collin Sexton scored a game-high 27 points and Simone Fontecchio added 24 points five rebounds as the Utah Jazz defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 122-114 Thursday night at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
Rough night for the Trail Blazers at Moda Center!
Collin Sexton scored a game-high 27 points and Simone Fontecchio added 24 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Utah Jazz handed the Portland Trail Blazers their fifth-straight loss 122-114 Monday night at Moda Center.
The Jazz exploded for 69 points in the first half on 58.7% and led by as many as 33 points cruising to an easy victory over the Blazers. Utah outscored the Blazers 72-50 in the paint and pulled down 21 offensive rebounds.
Talen Horton-Tucker added 23 points for the short-handed Jazz (9-16), who won with ease despite playing without All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George.
The Blazers never found a rhythm until the game was decided. Portland connected on just 41.7% of their shots and both Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe combined for just 13 points on 4-of-20 shooting.
Scoot Henderson had a career-high 23 points and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers and Toumani Camara scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
The Blazers lacked intensity from the start of the game and the Jazz made them pay with solid execution and more effort.
“Defensively, they were just blowing our doors off the entire time,” Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups said. “We could never get control of them. We tried every defense we had tonight. Nothing worked.”
Up Next- The Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday night at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Blazers not sharp on either side of the floor. Missed opportunity to grab a win with multiple stars out of the lineup for the Jazz.