Clarkson’s Late Push Carries Jazz Over Trail Blazers

SALT LAKE CITY – Jordan Clarkson scored 15 fourth quarter points as the Utah Jazz beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-113 for their second win in as many nights.

Clarkson scored 28 while Malik Beasley led the Jazz with 29 in the win.

Both Mike Conley and Damian Lillard left the game with injuries as the Jazz took over the top spot in the Western Conference.

First Quarter

The Trail Blazers used an early 15-2 run to build a 17-5 lead over the Jazz who looked sluggish on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Jazz opened the game 1-11 from the floor and converted just 2-14 from the three-point line.

.@MarkkanenLauri with a strong start in The City of Roses. 💪 #TakeNote #UTAvsPOR @BensHoopshttps://t.co/3QdxNedMik

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2022

Portland also struggled to shoot the ball connecting on just 1-9 from downtown in the first quarter.

The Jazz used a late 11-2 run to erase the Trail Blazer’s double-digit lead and trailed 23-20.

Second Quarter

The Blazers answered with a 12-4 run to open the second quarter to rebuild an 11-point lead.

Malik Beasley continued his strong play from Friday night fueling a 15-4 run as the Jazz tied the game at 38 midway through the second quarter

The 🏦 is open for @JordanClarksons. #TakeNote #UTAvsPOR @BensHoopshttps://t.co/xBh9y8sMSm

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2022

Beasley scored 15 points in the quarter to match Lauri Markkanen’s first half total.

At the break, the Jazz led the Trail Blazers 58-53.

Third Quarter

Mike Conley suffered a hyperextended knee early in the third quarter after playing only seven minutes in the first half.

The Jazz used a 19-5 run early in the second half to build a 77-58 lead, their largest of the night.

.@utahjazz guard Mike Conley played nine minutes before leaving the #UTAvsPOR game with an injury. #TakeNote @BensHoopshttps://t.co/2RTtlbPPiG

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2022

The Blazers answered with a 21-5 run to trim the Jazz lead to three.

However, the Jazz answered with a 5-0 run and took an 87-79 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Damian Lillard struggled through the first three quarters of the game scoring 13 points on 2-14 shooting and 1-12 from the three-point line.

The superstar guard left in the third quarter and was ruled out by the Blazers early in the fourth.

Three players with 20 points or more in this one 📈#Pura3Pointer | @pura pic.twitter.com/6VXEfVTx87

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 20, 2022

The Jazz led by as much as 10 in the fourth quarter, but the Blazers stormed back and took a one-point lead as the Jazz missed Conley’s late-game execution after the injury.

Jordan Clarkson scored eight of his 15 fourth quarter points in the final two minutes of the game and the Jazz beat the Trail Blazers 118-113.

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