The Portland Trail Blazers’ high-octane offense was racing along Wednesday on a record-setting pace, seemingly heading toward a blowout victory.
Then it ran into a fourth-quarter speed bump and the Blazers had to hold on for dear life.
Portland nearly squandered a 22-point lead at the Delta Center, but had just enough down the stretch to earn a clutch road win, defeating the Utah Jazz 136-134 in a wild, down-to-the-wire slugfest.
For the better part of three spectacular quarters, the Blazers’ breakneck pace overwhelmed the Jazz, mixing a barrage of three-pointers, fast-break points and swarming coast-to-coast defense to control the pace and build a hefty lead. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Blazers had scored 117 points, producing the second-most in franchise history through three quarters.
And when Jrue Holiday swished a step-back three with 10:03 left in the game, the Blazers sported a 122-100 lead and the only thing left was to run out the clock.
Or so it seemed.
Instead, the Jazz caught fire, the Blazers’ offense hit the skids and a blowout turned into a barnburner. Utah, which outscored Portland 36-19 in the final period, reeled off a 16-2 run to creep back into the game, and by the time it reached crunch time — after Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George delivered a flood of clutch shots and timely free throws — the Jazz were stunningly within striking distance.
But the Blazers, who wilted in key late-game moments during losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers already this season, made just enough plays and free throws down the stretch to avoid a total collapse this time.
The Blazers (3-2) made only four field goals in the fourth, but went 9 for 10 from the free-throw line to hold off the Jazz (2-2).
The biggest free throws came from Holiday, with 8.7 and 5.9 seconds left, when he went 4 for 4 to preserve the win.
The Jazz had a couple chances in the waning seconds, when the Blazers were clinging to a three-point lead, to tie the game. But Holiday committed fouls on Utah ball-handlers before they could attempt a three-pointer, forcing them to settle for free throws.
The final chance came with 3.9 seconds left, when Holiday fouled Kyle Filipowski on the floor. He swished the first free throw, then purposefully missed the second off the back iron, hoping a teammate would corral the rebound and hoist a game-tying shot.
Instead, it was Holiday who came down with the ball, ending the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Holiday was dominant on both ends, finishing with 27 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Deni Avdija recorded 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. And the ice-cold Shaedon Sharpe finally started to show signs of breaking out of his funk, making 6 of 14 shots, including 4 of 8 threes, on the way to 18 points.
Markkanen and George were electric for the Jazz. One game after torching the Phoenix Suns for 51 points, Markkanen was at it again, bludgeoning the Blazers for 32 points, five rebounds, three steals and three blocks. George, meanwhile, finished with 29 points and eight rebounds.
FIRST HALF ERUPTION
The Blazers erupted for their most prolific half of the season in the win, scoring a whopping 79 points before halftime.
In a first half that resembled a track meet, the Blazers outscored the Jazz 79-73 and boasted a box score that looked bonkers. Twelve Blazers played in the half and 11 scored, including four who reached double-figures. Seven made a three-pointer.
Jerami Grant recorded a team-high 16 points, while Sharpe (11), Holiday (10) and Avdija (10) also reached double figures. The Blazers were hot from the field, shooting 55%, and prolific from long-range, draining 14 three-pointers. Throughout it all, the bench was dominant, as seven backups combined to produce 40 points.
The Jazz led by as many as 13 points late in the first quarter, but it was erased — and then some — with an emphatic second quarter, during which the Blazers shot 60%, made eight threes, and pummeled Utah, 46-30.
THYBULLE RETURNS, THEN SUFFERS INJURY
After a one-game absence with right hip soreness, backup wing Matisse Thybulle returned for the Blazers. But the disruptive defender only lasted four minutes, 42 seconds in the first quarter before leaving again, this time with a left thumb ailment.
Thybulle appeared to hurt his thumb on the final play of the quarter, when he snatched a steal, initiated offense the other way and tossed an alley-oop lob to Caleb Love. Thybulle collided awkwardly with a Utah defender as he tossed the pass and immediately appeared to be favoring his hand.
He did not return and the team later confirmed he was out for the remainder of the game.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Utah Jazz on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Moda Center. It’s the opener of a three-game homestand.
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