Game Thread GAME# 54: BLAZERS @ JAZZ - FEBRUARY 20, 2015 - FRIDAY, 6:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[Darkwebs]

---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS DANTE EXUM

SG

WESLEY MATTHEWS VS ELIJAH MILLSAP

SF

NICOLAS BATUM VS GORDON HAYWARD

PF

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE VS DERRICK FAVORS

C

ROBIN LOPEZ VS RUDY GOBERT



WHEN: 6:00 PM (Pacific), FRIDAY, 2/20/2015​

WHERE: EnergySolutions Arena
Salt Lake City, Utah

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

------------------------------------------------------



--------------BENCH--------------

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

BLAKE , MCCOLLUM , CRABBE

WRIGHT , LEONARD , KAMAN

UTAH JAZZ

BURKE , CLARK , INGLES , HOOD

EVANS , JERRETT , BOOKER , PERKINS





INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
⦁ Arron Afflalo (not with team yet): OUT
⦁ Alonzo Gee (not with team yet): OUT
⦁ Joel Freeland (right shoulder strain): OUT
JAZZ
⦁ Joe Ingles (low back muscle spasms): PROBABLE
⦁ Rodney Hood (left foot inflammation): PROBABLE
⦁ Alec Burks (left shoulder surgery): OUT





HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --- QUIN SNYDER




BLAZERS' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES ​

• Friday marks the second of four matchups between the Trail Blazers and Jazz in 2014-15.

• Portland’s defense is eighth in the NBA, limiting the opposition to 97.3 points per game. Utah is 24th in the NBA in scoring (95.7 pts/game).

• The Trail Blazers are second in the NBA at defending the three-pointer, holding their opponents to 32.0% shooting. Utah is 20th in the NBA in shooting from beyond the arc at 34.3%.

• Portland defeated Utah, 103-102 on Feb. 3 at the Moda Center behind 22 points and 11 rebounds from LaMarcus Aldridge.

• The Trail Blazers have won five consecutive games against the Jazz and are just one win short of tying their longest winning streak against Utah in franchise history (W-6 from 4/19/88 through 12/28/89).

• Portland won all four games against Utah last season, marking the fi rst time in franchise history that the Trail Blazers swept the Jazz.

• LaMarcus Aldridge has recorded five double-doubles in the past six games against the Jazz.

• In the first game between these two teams, Damian Lillard scored 25 points without making a three-point field goal (Career-high).

• Wesley Matthews has scored at least 20 points in fi ve of his past six games against the Jazz. Matthews has also totaled three or more three-pointers in four of the past six matchups with Utah.

• Damian Lillard has handed out at least five assists in eight of his nine career contests against the Jazz (Avg. 5.8 in nine career games).

• Portland connected on 41 three-point attempts against Utah last season, its highest mark against any Western Conference opponent.

• Gordon Hayward’s 27-point performance against Portland on Feb. 3 was his highest point total against Portland in 15 career games. It also marked the third time in 15 career games that Hayward registered 20+ points against the Trail Blazers.

• In the first game between these two teams this season on Feb. 3, Portland matched its season-high of 24 made free throws and set a new season-high of 34 free throw attempts.

• Robin Lopez scored 11 points and hauled in six rebounds against the Jazz on Feb. 3 in his first game back after missing the previous 23 due to a right hand fracture. Last season, Lopez hauled in a career-high 18 rebounds against Utah on Feb. 21.


• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Jazz lead, 93-77
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 57-28
AT THE JAZZ: Jazz lead, 65-19

JAZZ' OFFICIAL GAME NOTES



GO BLAZERS!!!​

 

[Darkwebs]

Reserved for Brian

 

[Strenuus]

FINALLY!!!!

 

[EGame]

Should be fun. Im excited to see everyone after the break not named Batum./

 

[Strenuus]

Should be fun. Im excited to see everyone after the break not named Batum./

I'm more intrigued to see how Batum is going to be in the next week or two. It'll be very telling.

 

[EGame]

I'm more intrigued to see how Batum is going to be in the next week or two. It'll be very telling.

I'd like to hope he does better than the garbage he's put up this whole season, but I just think his wrist or whatever is bothering him will keep on affecting his play. Hope for the best, though.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Why is Perkins on their roster and Afflalo isn't on ours?
Also, interesting that they're playing Exum at PG, I think their strongest lineup is with both him and Burke.

 

[Duvalier]

Why is Perkins on their roster and Afflalo isn't on ours?
Also, interesting that they're playing Exum at PG, I think their strongest lineup is with both him and Burke.

Afflalo isn't traveling/playing with the team tonight.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm really interested to see how Gobert responds to Kanter's departure. He's presently leading the league in block percentage and defensive box plus-minus. He's averaging 22mpg on the season, 27mpg since the start of 2015. If his minutes increase substantially (32-34 mpg), his numbers suggest he could put up 11/11/3 (blks) without too much difficulty. Marcus Camby is the only person to do that this century.

 

[riverman]

Well fans, I'm going to miss my first game of the season tonight. Son bought me tickets to the Globetrotters and I'll be there whistling Sweet Georgia Brown! Go Blazers!

 

[Draco]

If we win the rest of our games against Utah Denver Minnesota we'll have the division tiebreaker over the thunder even if they beat us twice.

 

[Draco]

This might be one of CJ last chance to get big minutes at SG. He had a quality stretch before the break.

 

[BlazerBeav]

If we win the rest of our games against Utah Denver Minnesota we'll have the division tiebreaker over the thunder even if they beat us twice.

Nice catch! Though, I certainly hope we aren't needing that tie-breaker.

I don't care how bad the Jazz are, winning in Salt Lake City has always been a problem for us and I love seeing the place empty out early. Hopefully we establish ourselves early on and don't wait till the 4th.

 

[HailBlazers]

A - for Afflalo

 

[EGame]

Don't worry I'm here to liven things up.

 

[Strenuus]

Somehow LP is letting me watch this game....

 

[Strenuus]

They call that, but not the one where Dame gets hit in the head.... oh, probably because Dame made his shot.

 

[Strenuus]

It's a weird day when Rice has to correct Barrett.

2 on Rudy.

 

[EGame]

dame just spoon feeding them the ball. nice

 

[Strenuus]

dame just spoon feeding them the ball. nice

I was trying to figure out why it was so quiet on the game thread.

It was because we were doing good things.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Lillard won't stop shooting 3s!

:MARIS61:

 

[Strenuus]

There was vintage (can you say that about a 3rd year player?) Lillard.

 

[Darkwebs]

Our team is shooting a lot of jump shots, which might be a concern. But since it's going in, it's all good for now.

 

[Strenuus]

That was a hard shot... damn LA.

 

[EGame]

I was trying to figure out why it was so quiet on the game thread.

It was because we were doing good things.

Ya we are doing good. Just wish we would stop shooting ourselves in the foot with bad turnovers.

 

[Draco]

Next year when Aldridge is all healed up he needs to keep that brace and sleeve on his left hand; he's shooting jumpers lights out

 

[Strenuus]

Toronto up 20+ against Atlanta... last time they got whooped at home they ended up winning the next 19 games... uh-oh.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Ya we are doing good. Just wish we would stop shooting ourselves in the foot with bad turnovers.

That's why if Nate were still coach he would be starting Blake over Dame.

 

[EGame]

ugh.

 

[Darkwebs]

We need to take care of the ball. Stop the slop