Johnny Juzang had a season-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers, and John Collins added 20 points as the Utah Jazz easily defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 141-99 on Friday night.
Walker Kessler grabbed 17 rebounds, blocked five shots, and scored 13 points as the Jazz ended a five-game losing streak. This victory was only their second in the last 11 games and their fifth in 22 games this season.
Keyonte George scored 17 points, Collin Sexton finished with 16 points and seven assists, and Svi Mykhailiuk added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz. They had a 39-18 advantage in fastbreak points.
Jerami Grant and Dalano Banton each scored 19 points for Portland, which has lost seven of its last nine games. Anfernee Simons and Kris Murray each scored 14 points for the Trail Blazers.
The Jazz shot 55.2% from the field, including 43.8% (14 of 32) from 3-point range, and dominated on the boards with a 61-34 rebounding advantage. This win improved their road record to 3-8.
Juzang wasn’t the only Jazz reserve to step up. Drew Eubanks had 12 points and nine rebounds, Isaiah Collier scored 12 points, and Brice Sensabaugh added 11 points.
Portland struggled, shooting just 38.9% from the field and 29.8% (14 of 47) from 3-point range. Shaedon Sharpe contributed 10 points for the Blazers.
Portland was without Robert Williams III, who missed his fifth straight game due to a concussion.
Utah took control early, leading 13-3, 18-5, and 33-17 by the end of the first quarter. The Jazz’s lead grew to 38-20 after Sensabaugh’s basket at the 9:53 mark of the second quarter and reached 20 points with Kessler’s dunk at 1:38. Utah led 67-44 at halftime, with George leading the team with 13 points and Simons scoring 11 for Portland.
The Jazz continued to dominate in the third quarter, scoring the first seven points to push the lead to 30. A 3-pointer by Juzang made it 101-66 with 1:25 left in the period, and Utah took a 102-70 lead into the fourth quarter.
Micah Potter’s 3-pointer increased the lead to 41 points at 114-73 with 8:34 remaining. The lead reached 46 points when Juzang hit another 3-pointer with 6:33 left
