----- Anfernee Simons scored a career-high 45 points as the Portland Trail Blazers snapped a three-game losing streak 116-111 over the Utah Jazz Saturday night at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Anfernee Simons Show!
Anfernee picked a perfect time for a career night. Going into Utah, the Blazers had dropped seven of their last eight games and had fall to 11-11 on the season. With Damian Lillard (calf) and Josh Hart (ankle) out of the lineup, Simons knew he would have to carry the load on offense.
Simons scored 33 points in the first half pushing the Blazers to a 69-60 halftime lead. Simons connected on 12-of-18 from the field in the first half including a sizzling 7-of-12 from beyond the arc. The Jazz simply had no answer.
Simons finished the night with a career-high 45 points on 15-of-25 shooting including 8-for-8 at the free throw line.
Utah would cut the deficit to 92-90 entering the fourth quarter setting up a back-and-forth affair in the final period.
The Jazz momentarily took the lead at 111-110 with 1:02 remaining on a Kelly Olynyk bucket, but the Blazers scored the final six-points of the game at the foul line to secure the win.
With the defense keying in on Simons in the fourth, Jerami Grant took on the role as primary scorer. Grant scored 13 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter including four clutch free throws in the final minute. He connected on 10-of-18 from the field and dished out five assists.
Jusuf Nurkic finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds and Trendon Watford added nine points and 14 rebounds. Justise Winslow and Watford started in place of Lillard and Hart.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers play the second of a back-to-back tomorrow night at Moda Center against the Indiana Pacers. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Anfernee Simons played like a 100 million dollar man tonight. Scored a career-high and powered the Blazers to a much needed win.