Jazz look for continued success from Jaren Jackson Jr. vs. Blazers
Jaren Jackson Jr. is fitting in well and making a solid first impression with the Utah Jazz.
The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year also has a solid offensive game, and he will look to record a 20-point performance for the fourth straight game with his new team when the Jazz battle the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
The clash will be the final one before the All-Star break for both teams.
Jackson might not want the time off as he has stood out since Utah acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies as part of an eight-player trade early last week.
He scored 22 points in 25 minutes in his Utah debut on Saturday in a road loss against the Orlando Magic. Two nights later, he again had 22 points in 25 minutes as the Jazz notched a road victory over the Miami Heat.
Jackson kept it going Wednesday with 23 points in 22 minutes as Utah walloped the visiting Sacramento Kings 121-93.
"Credit to my teammates," Jackson said after the latest win. "It's been a great week. It's been crazy. They have made me feel welcome and comfortable. I'm glad to get a home game in. It was loud. It's been great."
Jackson, a two-time All-Star, is averaging 19.5 points in 48 games, the first 45 coming for the Grizzlies.
The Jazz acquired Jackson to team with Lauri Markkanen, a former All-Star who narrowly missed making the team this season. Markkanen is averaging a career-best 26.7 points in 41 games after scoring 19 against the Kings.
"He can do everything on the court," Jackson said of Markkanen. "This fan base knows what he brings. I'm happy to be out there with him, and we're going to keep doing it."
Utah has won back-to-back games for the first time since late December. The Jazz lost 12 of 14 games before the wins over Miami and Sacramento.
The two victories came without standout guard Keyonte George (sprained right ankle), who has missed five of the past six games, the first three due to a sprained left ankle.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are completing a quick two-game road trip.
Portland fell into 10th place in the Western Conference when it was blasted 133-109 by the Timberwolves on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Julius Randle had 41 points for Minnesota.
Jrue Holiday led Portland with 23 points while All-Star Deni Avdija managed just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. He missed all seven shots from behind the arc.
Avdija has struggled with lower back pain in recent weeks and is a candidate to be rested on the second end of the back-to-back.
Portland's Shaedon Sharpe (left calf strain) will likely miss his fourth straight game.
Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter wasn't pleased with the effort against Minnesota. Particularly disturbing was seeing his squad turn the ball over 26 times to match its season worst. The Timberwolves scored 43 points off the miscues.
"Of course, not a great game. We couldn't get our rhythm," Splitter said. "They did a tremendous job with their defense. We turned the ball over way too much. Can't win a game like that."
Portland might fare better Thursday as it is 2-0 against the Jazz this season. The Trail Blazers recorded a 136-134 win on Oct. 29 in Salt Lake City, and Portland led by as many as 32 points during a 137-117 home win over the Jazz on Jan. 5.
"We got to get better and we will," Splitter said. "I think it was an off-game for everyone (Wednesday).
"We got to bounce back. We have another game (Thursday) night. We have to regroup and see who's ready to play."