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With limited personnel, the Blazers played the Jazz to the final seconds, before a missed goaltending call on an attempted Damian Lillard layup tipped the scales in a 117-114 Utah victory. Lillard’s 42 points were nearly enough.
And Then There Were Seven. With Hassan Whiteside and Nas Little ruled out, the Blazers were short-staffed at tip-off. But soon after, Simons left with the injury, and Trevor Ariza was ejected for arguing with the official.
No Rest For the Weary. Portland had a double-digit lead early, but as the game wore on, hands were on the knees, and shots were falling short. Utah slowly crept ahead, with help from a third quarter run.
Utah Doesn’t Look Good. The Jazz looked like a team that didn’t believe in the concept of winning, showing a lack of cohesion at both ends all night against a very tired, short-handed Blazers team.
The Blazers head home for a day off, then a game with the new-look Miami Heat (minus injured Meyers Leonard) Sunday night.