Jazz hold on to win at home: Portland Trail Blazers 77 at Utah Jazz 86 -- Game Recap

NBA Regular Season 2012-2013, Game 47:

Portland Trail Blazers 77 @ Utah Jazz 86

#PORatUTA Game Stream -- Blazers Edge (SB Nation) -- Trail Blazers vs Jazz coverage

The Jazz look to make it 5 games in a row over the Jail blazers

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I did not get a chance to watch the entire game:

But I did watch the last 7 minutes and from what I saw, both teams were already hampered by injuries, and more people kept going down. Mo Williams, Gordon Hayward, Joel Freeland, and Sasha Pavlovic were all already not good to go. That's over and above the Elliot Williams and Raja Bell absences. During the game more players got hurt, and Wesley Matthews Jr , Ronnie Price, and Earl Watson could not finish the game.

Who did finish the game? Al Jefferson finished the game as he had the statistical, situational, and ultimately more superior game than "All-Star" LaMarcus Aldridge. Jefferson did not have his best game, but he had enough to bring us home into port. The veteran bigman had two key buckets down the stretch when Portland was coming back and threatening to upset the ultimate outcome of this game. It was needed, because the Jazz outside shooting had gone completely cold (4/15 for the night, only 26.7 3pt%), and even guys like Randy Foye, a potential 3pt shootout contestant, went cold. Randy missed 8 of his 11 three point attempts, including a number of good looks with his feet set. The only other player on our team to make a three was Earl Watson, his only shot of the game. Earl did also finish with 7 assists and 2 turn overs, but injured his lower right leg and will not travel to Portland tonight. (He's going to receive and MRI and fly out tomorrow)

Big Al did not do it alone, Paul Millsap added 15 points, but only 2 rebounds. Randy had 14, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Marvin Williams started off hot, and finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Of course, a big story in this (and all of our) game was our bench. In the game preview we pointed out that Portland's bench was nothing to talk about. They managed a shopping 10 points tonight, total. Our bench finished with 28 -- Derrick Favors (7 points and 12 rebounds) and DeMarre Carroll (13 points, 2 rebounds) led the charge.

Enes Kanter played another 6 minutes, all in the first half. One would wonder if he broke some team rule or something. Alec Burks, pressed into duty because of all the injuries, finished the game and had a key offensive rebound, tip in basket with only a few minutes remaining. It was his only make in the game.

On the other side of the ball you have to take the time out to recognize the amazing talent of Damian Lillard, who finished with 26 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds in his first return to the state where he played college ball. He did that in 42 minutes of action. Nicolas Batum played 38 minutes but had an overall forgettable game (looking past his 3 blocks and 2 steals, I guess). Aldridge played 37 minutes. We play these guys tomorrow night.

Both teams will be tired, injured, and missing guys. It'll be another fun game.