Jrue Holiday’s big boost boosts Blazers in win over Jazz
Jrue Holiday recorded a season-best 31 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 135-119 victory over the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Donovan Clingan produced 23 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists as Portland won for the fourth time in five games. Jerami Grant scored 18 points, Scoot Henderson added 15 off the bench and Toumani Camara had 14 for the Trail Blazers.
Brice Sensabaugh made five 3-pointers and scored 28 points for Utah, which has dropped 13 of its last 17 games.
Kyle Filipowski had 15 points, nine rebounds and a career-best six steals, Ace Bailey had 15 points and eight rebounds and Isaiah Collier added 15 points, nine assists and three steals before fouling out for the Jazz. Svi Mykhailiuk had 14 points for Utah, which is 0-3 against Portland this season.
The contest was the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
Utah played without Jaren Jackson Jr., who will soon undergo season-ending knee surgery. Keyonte George (ankle) sat out for the sixth time in seven games while Lauri Markkanen was held out for rest.
Trail Blazers All-Star Deni Avdija (back) missed his second straight game and 10th in his past 16. Shaedon Sharpe (calf) sat out for the fourth straight contest.
Portland connected on 51.1% of its shots and made 18 of 46 from 3-point range. Backups Vit Krejci and Caleb Love each had 11 points for the Trail Blazers, who had a 52-38 rebounding advantage.
The Jazz made 48.3% of their attempts, including 14 of 38 from behind the arc.
Sensabaugh scored 19 first-half points as Utah led 63-61 at the break. Holiday had 16 points for the Trail Blazers.
Filipowski's basket started the third-quarter scoring before Portland rattled off 14 straight points. Clingan ended the run with two free throws to give the Trail Blazers a 75-65 lead with 7:01 left.
Holiday's two free throws gave Portland an 85-71 advantage with 4:11 remaining. Utah was later within 11 before Krejci and Love canned 3-pointers to give the Trail Blazers a 95-78 lead with 1:39 left.
Portland led 101-86 entering the final stanza before the Jazz made a change. Mykhailiuk scored five straight points as Utah crept within 108-102 with 7:51 to play.
A 3-pointer by Blake Hinson pulled the Jazz within 111-108 with 6:47 left before the Trail Blazers went on an 11-2 burst. Holiday's layup ended the run and gave Portland a 12-point lead with 4:26 remaining.
Sensabaugh drained a trey to bring Utah within 122-115 with 3:27 left before the Trail Blazers responded with a 13-1 surge.