By Cody Sharrett - The Portland Trail Blazers (14-20) travel to the Wasatch Range for a New Year’s Eve meeting with the Utah Jazz (13-17) in Salt Lake City. Thursday’s contest is the second of four matchups with the Jazz in 2015-16, with the Trail Blazers having defeated the Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena, 108-92, back on November 4.
Both teams enter the duel on the second night of back-to-backs. Portland defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-103 Wednesday night at Moda Center behind CJ McCollum’s 29 points and 20 points from Allen Crabbe. In Minnesota, the Jazz fell on the road to the Timberwolves, 94-80.