Portland Trail Blazers win their 5th straight game; top Utah Jazz 105-98


Portland Trail Blazers win their 5th straight game; top Utah Jazz 105-98

CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard

It was the core members of the Portland Trail Blazers who ensured that the team top Utah Jazz to maintain their 5-straight wins record and also hold onto the last playoff spot for now. Damian Lillard scored 30 points, while CJ McCullum added 26 points and Carmelo Anthony knocked 18 as Trail Blazers beat Jazz 105-98. 

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On the other hand, Jordan Clarkson scored 29 points to lead Utah Jazz. Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 20 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their second straight game. Utah now holds a 1 1/2 game lead over Phoenix Suns for the best record in the NBA. 

Portland Trail Blazers ensures to be one win ahead of LA Lakers as they win 5-straight to maintain 6th playoff spot in Western Conference 

The Utah Jazz drew within 90-81 on a second-chance dunk from Gobert. But that was their only basket through the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter. Utah missed eight of nine shots overall in that stretch. 

Portland Trail Blazers pushed the lead back to double digits amid the drought and extended its advantage to 97-81 on a layup from Lillard with 4:19 left. 

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Utah charged out of the gates in the first quarter. The Utah Jazz made their first seven shots and scored on six straight possessions to carve out a 16-4 lead. Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert each scored back-to-back baskets to fuel the hot start. 

Portland Trail Blazers weathered the surge and chipped away at Utah’s lead until overtaking the Jazz in the second quarter. The Trail Blazers hit nine of their first 12 shots to open the quarter and scored on four straight possessions, culminating in a 3-pointer from Norman Powell, to take a 49-46 lead. 

Having said that, Gobert finished with at least 20 rebounds for the sixth time this season. Udoka Azubuike played in an NBA game for the first time since late January after missing 41 games with a severe right ankle sprain. 

Also Read: Atlanta Hawks clinch playoff spot after beating Washington Wizards 120-116

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