The Utah Jazz are struggling with turnovers.
Unfortunately, these turnovers aren’t benefiting their fans, as the opponents are the ones taking advantage.
The Jazz will try to cut down on their turnovers and end a five-game losing streak when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
In their 133-106 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Utah committed an alarming 29 turnovers, which led to 45 points for Oklahoma City.
“Our ball security got really exposed,” said Jazz coach Will Hardy. “They really preyed on us in terms of our lack of quick decision making, (we) got caught in the crowd too much, we didn’t fight for our space very well.
“This was going to be the determining factor of the game, from my standpoint, before the game started. It ended up being very much the deciding part of the game.”
Friday’s game could see many turnovers. The Jazz lead the NBA with 18.5 turnovers per game, and the Trail Blazers are the second-worst team in this category with 17.1 per game.
In the loss to the Thunder, Utah was outscored 25-9 on fastbreak points. Oklahoma City committed only eight turnovers.
For Utah, five players had four or more turnovers in the game.
“My biggest fear is that the guys don’t see or feel that they are improving when it comes to the foundation of our defense,” Hardy said. “The turnovers are going to be something that if we can’t get it under control, it’s going to be distracting from the things that are improved.”
Utah has lost nine of its last 10 games while trying to fix its turnover issues.
Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler (who grabbed 11 rebounds) led the Jazz with 17 points each against Oklahoma City. In total, six players scored at least 13 points.
The Jazz are 2-8 on the road as they face the Trail Blazers, who are 5-5 at home. Portland has lost six of its last eight games.
The Trail Blazers were beaten 127-105 by the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Portland had five players score in double figures, with Deandre Ayton leading the team with 16 points, and Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe both adding 15 points.
“Got off to a rough start again in the game,” said Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. “I thought our second group came in and saved us and they really got us back in it. Kind of revitalized us as a group and it ended up being a good first half.
“And then we just kind of chopped and were clawing the rest of the way in the third quarter and then boom, it got away from us.”
Avdija and Dalano Banton (14 points) were the top Portland bench players against the Clippers.
Robert Williams III (concussion) will miss his fifth straight game for the Trail Blazers.
Portland has allowed more than 120 points in four of its last five games, losing every time they gave up at least that many points.
Before Thursday’s games, Portland was ranked 21st in scoring defense, allowing 115.3 points per game, while Utah was 28th, giving up 118.6 points per game.
The Jazz won three out of four meetings between the teams last season. The teams split the two games played in Portland.
