The decimated Portland Trail Blazers didn’t roll over on Wednesday evening, but they didn’t exactly put up much resistance either, losing at home to the rolling Utah Jazz 120-105. Damian Lillard and Norman Powell had 32 points apiece in the loss, but the Blazers struggled to get offense from elsewhere.
First Quarter
With Portland lacking true centers with meaningful NBA experience to contend with Utah’s immense size, the Jazz were able to flex mismatches galore. Rudy Gobert punished the Blazers near the rim as he effortlessly brushed off shoulder-level defenders who probably wished they could be anywhere but fighting for space with the 7’1” behemoth.