The Portland Trail Blazers held off a late rally by the Utah Jazz to secure a much-needed win in the playoff race on Monday night. The victory was crucial for the Blazers, who came into the game trailing the Dallas Mavericks by one game for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
The Blazers got off to a strong start in the game, with Damian Lillard leading the charge with 23 points in the first half. The team shot 50% from the field in the first half and took a 56-44 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Jazz fought back, cutting the deficit to single digits at the end of the third quarter. Donovan Mitchell led the charge for the Jazz, scoring 18 of his game-high 37 points in the third quarter.
The Blazers, however, were able to hold off the Jazz’s late surge and secure the win. Lillard led the way for the Blazers with 30 points, five rebounds, and six assists. CJ McCollum added 26 points, while Jusuf Nurkic had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The win was crucial for the Blazers, who have been struggling in recent weeks. The team had lost three of their last four games heading into Monday’s contest and were in danger of falling further behind in the playoff race.
With the win, the Blazers improved to 32-23 on the season and moved into a tie with the Mavericks for the sixth seed in the West. The Jazz, on the other hand, dropped to 38-13 and saw their lead atop the conference standings shrink to just one game over the Phoenix Suns.
The Blazers will look to build on their win on Wednesday night when they host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are just one game behind the Blazers in the playoff race and will be looking to close the gap with a win.
Overall, the Blazers’ win over the Jazz was a much-needed boost for a struggling team. The victory not only helped them in the playoff race but also provided some confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. With just 17 games left in the regular season, every win is crucial for the Blazers as they look to secure a playoff spot and make a deep postseason run.