Scoot Henderson made a game-winning step-back jumper with just one-tenth of a second left, giving the Portland Trail Blazers a 122-120 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night. This clutch shot helped Portland secure only their second win in 10 games, overcoming a 15-point deficit in the second half.
Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen tied the game with five straight points in the final 40.2 seconds. Deni Avdija scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, while Shaedon Sharpe added 12 of his 27 points in the same period. Deandre Ayton finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, contributing to the Blazers’ comeback win. Henderson recorded 18 points and 10 assists.
Markkanen led the Jazz with 25 points, as they ended their road trip with a 2-3 record. Collin Sexton had 19 points and 11 assists, Svi Mykhailiuk added 18 points with six 3-pointers, Drew Eubanks scored 15, and Johnny Juzang finished with 14 points in the loss.
Avdija had a strong finish to the game, helping Portland go up 118-112. He blocked a Jazz shot, grabbed two rebounds, scored two baskets, and made three free throws in a personal 7-0 run.
Sharpe extended the Blazers’ lead to 120-115 with a layup, but Markkanen tied the game with two free throws and a 3-pointer in the final 40.2 seconds.
The Jazz came out strong in the second half, with Sexton and Mykhailiuk leading a 16-0 run. Sexton scored seven points, while Mykhailiuk hit three 3-pointers in a span of 82 seconds, giving Utah a 70-55 lead. Jerami Grant ended the Blazers’ drought with three free throws nearly four minutes into the third quarter.
Juzang pushed Utah’s lead to 94-84 early in the fourth, but the Blazers quickly shifted the momentum with three straight 3-pointers from Anfernee Simons, Grant, and Sharpe, along with a tip-in by Donovan Clingan to give Portland a one-point lead after an 11-0 run.
