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PORTLAND, OR - JANUARY 25: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 25, 2023 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

"Credit To The Blazers" | Utah Has No Answer For Lillard, Fall 134-124 To Portland

Ryan Kostecka
Digital Content Writer

When a player is in a zone, sometimes there's nothing the opposing team can do — and Utah found that out the hard way on Wednesday night. 

In what was a career night for Damian Lillard, the Jazz had no answer for the sharp-shooting guard as they fell 134-124 to Portland. 

“Credit to the Blazers,” head coach Will Hardy said. “What started out as a very focused, detailed game for us kind of fell apart in the second quarter from a defensive standpoint. ... Some of that is mental errors, some of that is they went 11-for-14 from three in that quarter. Coming out of halftime, again, we didn’t have the necessary focus defensively to get enough stops in this game.”

Despite the loss, it was a history-making night for Lauri Markkanen. 

With a three-pointer early in the first quarter, he set an NBA record with a made three-pointer in 37 consecutive games, the most ever by a 7-footer in league history. While his streak of double-doubles ended, he still finished with 24 points — his 17th straight game of scoring 20+ points. 

Ever since returning from a hamstring injury a few weeks ago, Collin Sexton has been on a tear as Utah's sixth man — and Wednesday was more of the same. 

He was the exact spark Utah needed to keep it close, often coming up with a big bucket by using his quickness and athleticism to attack the rim. He finished with 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and 3-for-3 from three-point territory. 

You knew it would be a good night for Damian Lillard when he knocked down a deep three on his first game attempt — but the Jazz had a great response. Behind five points from Markkanen, Utah went on a 12-2 run to lead by seven midway through. 

Portland would later cut the deficit to four, but Sexton got cooking from deep. Following two free throws by Markkanen, Sexton hit back-to-back threes as the Jazz ended the quarter on an 8-0 run. 

Utah led 31-19 after one. 

Despite the double-digit lead entering the second, the Jazz couldn't sustain it as Lillard and Portland caught fire from beyond the arc. 

The quarter began with both teams exchanging buckets, with Utah answering every time the Blazers appeared to be battling back. A Talen Horton-Tucker three made it a 10-point game, but Portland rallied to take the lead following a Lillard three, capping off an 11-0 run. 

The Jazz briefly retook the lead after a quick 6-0 run following back-to-back threes by Malik Beasley and Jordan Clarkson, but Portland answered to lead by two with just under a minute to go. Each team knocked down two threes in the final minute, with Portland getting the final say as a Nassir Little three beat the buzzer. 

Utah trailed 66-64 at the break. 

The Jazz still needed an answer defensively for Portland to begin the third, as their deficit reached seven less than two minutes in. But Mike Conley answered for Utah, scoring five straight to stop the bleeding — although it didn't last long.

Lillard stayed hot, and the Jazz had no answer, with their deficit reaching 15 with just over three minutes to go. Although Clarkson appeared to find a rhythm, he was no match for Lillard as he scored 20 straight Blazer points to end the quarter.

However, Sexton caught a rhythm at the end of the quarter to help save the Jazz. He scored six points in the final two minutes, and with a Rudy Gay three, helped trim the deficit. 

Utah trailed 102-91 entering the fourth. 

With the deficit reaching 15 with just under 10 to play, the Jazz gave it one final push. A Gay three helped spark an 8-2 run, with Horton-Tucker scoring the final five points tome it a nine-point game midway through. 

The Jazz had all the momentum when Markkanen's bucket made it a seven-point game after a successful challenge in which Sexton blocked a shot. But it was short-lived as Utah's defense fell apart, and the Blazers scored layups on three consecutive possessions to make it a double-digit deficit again.

Despite getting open looks from deep on four consecutive possessions, the Jazz couldn't get one to fall — ending the comeback attempt. 

“We did not do a good enough jobs with our pickup points on Lillard. … I just don’t think we were very detailed on our execution of the double teams,” Hardy said. “We’ve got to get back home, get back to practice, and continue to focus on the little things and not letting scoring bursts from the other team take us out of our mindset in the game. … Just got to continue to find ways to stay focused through those tough moments.”

Clarkson finished with 18 points and three assists, while Conley added eight points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. Horton-Tucker and Vanderbilt added 12 points, while Gay chipped in 11 — the Jazz finished with 58 bench points.

Lillard finished with 60 points.

Utah will have two days to figure things out before welcoming Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks to town on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

“I have no doubt that our team will bounce back,” Hardy said.