John Collins scores 20 points, Jazz ends 5-game skid with 141-99 win over Trail Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. — John Collins scored 20 points, Keyonte George had 17 and the Utah Jazz ended a five-game losing streak with a 141-99 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
Walker Kessler had 13 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks for the Jazz in their fifth win of the season.
Jerami Grant had 19 points for Portland in its third straight loss. The Blazers trailed by 46 points and were booed by the home fans.
The Jazz took a 38-20 lead. The Blazers were hurt early in the game when Toumani Camara limped off the court with a right foot injury and did not return.
The Jazz led 67-44 at halftime and pushed the lead to 30 points at 76-46 in the third quarter. All of Utah’s starters were in double figures at that point.
Jazz: Forward Lauri Markkanen was a late scratch while dealing with lower back injuries. He missed three games earlier in the season because of the same issue. Svi Mykhailiuk started in his place.
Trail Blazers: Portland was without Scoot Henderson for the fifth straight game due to a left quad contusion. Rookie Donovan Clingan has a sprained left knee.
Collin Sexton passed to Collins for a dunk that gave the Jazz a 90-59 lead in the third quarter and got the bench back on its feet. Shaedon Sharpe had a blistering dunk in the first half as the Blazers tried in vain to erase the deficit.
Blazers guard Anfernee Simons became the fourth player in Portland history to make more than 800 3-pointers, joining Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Wesley Matthews. Overall, the Blazers were dismal from the perimeter, making just 14 of 47 3-pointers.
Both teams are back in action on Sunday evening. The Jazz are with the Kings and the Trail Blazers with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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