December 9, 2013
NOTES
• The Trail Blazers have won each of the first three meetings against the Jazz for the first season since 1997-98.
• Portland’s 9-3 mark against the Northwest Division represents the best divisional record of any Western Conference team.
• Portland was a perfect 17-17 from the free throw line, all of which came in the second half. The last time the Trail Blazers did not miss a free throw was on Feb. 13, 2013 at New Orleans (13-13).
• The last time Portland was perfect from the foul line and shot at least 17 free throws was March 22, 2012 against Memphis (25-25). The 17 free throws is tied for the third most shots without a miss this season.
• Robin Lopez set a career high with 18 rebounds (previously 16, set on Nov. 22, 2013 vs. Chicago) and a career high 12 defensive rebounds (previously 10, set on November 13 against Phoenix).
• Damian Lillard joins Stephen Curry (2013-14), Gilbert Arenas (2006-07) as the only players with 1,100 points, 300 assists and 150 3-pointers in the team’s first 55 games.
• Robin Lopez has recorded his 10th career game with at least 14 rebounds. Nine of those games have come this season with Portland.
• The Trail Blazers improve to 18-3 this season when Mo Williams scores in double figures.
• Wesley Matthews had his 16th 20-point game of the year. He has averaged 18.2 points in 13 career games against Utah, his most against any NBA team.
• Dorell Wright grabbed a season high seven rebounds (previously five, set five times, most recently on February 19 against San Antonio).
• Portland started the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to regain the lead, 74-73. The Trail Blazers extended the run to 14-2 while holding the Jazz to 1-for-11 shooting from the field.
• Utah did not score in the fourth quarter until Diante Garrett hit a two-point shot at the 8:33 mark.
• Jazzman Enes Kanter tied a career high with 25 points to lead Utah.
On Performance Tonight:
“My teammates just did a good job of helping me. We knew we were a little thin inside. Defensively, most of the game, we were focused and I think we were successful at packing the paint and just gang rebounding.”
On Difference In Fourth Quarter:
“It sounds a little cliché but we were the aggressors, we were a little more tenacious. I really think it’s as simple as that.”
Are You Being More Active On The Glass Without Aldridge?:
“It’s in the back of my mind. I’m definitely conscious of it, but tonight we had a lot of people – we had Nic crashing the boards, we had Dorell and even Damian. That’s huge for us.”
On Matchup With Kanter:
“He had a really good game. He had some nice shots. But tonight, and especially last game and this period where we’re a little smaller, I’m not really focusing in on one-on-one matchups. I’m trying to play team defense and help wherever I can. People are going to get open that way, but right now it’s about helping the helper and helping people out.”
Terry Stotts
On Tonight's Game:
“It was a win that we desperately needed and we found a way. It’s another game that we won shooting under 44 percent. I think we need to take a lot of pride in that. We got back in the game with our defense. Robin Lopez was terrific all night. The foul trouble actually probably helped us in the fact that he was able to play fresh the fourth quarter. I thought our bench, everybody kind of contributed.”
On Defense Setting The Tone Late In The Game:
“We definitely got back into it with the defense. We were down nine. Nic got aggressive, Will was aggressive. Mo got into the ball. It changed the complexion of the game.”
On Lillard Scoring Late:
“The way they were playing the pick and roll, they were playing off a little bit. I thought he did a nice job of mixing up his mid-range, floaters and getting to the basket. The whole idea of playing a shooting lineup or a spacing lineup is that it allows more room to operate for a ball screen. So he was able to take advantage of that."
On Lopez:
“Robin was huge. He took a lot of responsibility. He had a tough matchup with Kanter and at the same time rebounded the ball and protected the paint. Just doing everything that he needed to do. One thing – he doesn’t stop playing. He got his third foul and he didn’t stop playing and unfortunately, he picked up his fourth, but he only knows one way to play and I think our guys really feed off of his energy.”
On Barton:
“I liked his energy. Will loves to ball and he comes out and makes plays. He may have made a defensive mistake here or there, but I thought he played within the framework of the team, took advantage of the opportunities. When you can feel a guy’s presence out on the court, I think that’s a good sign and you could definitely feel his presence.”
On Team's Energy:
“The energy, we need to play with that type of energy. With LA out of the game, everybody who gets in there – I thought Will and Victor and Thomas and all of them gave energy. That’s the style of play, especially now, that we need to have.”
Enes Kanter
On The Sting Of Losing Hold Of A Win In The Fourth Quarter:
"Yeah, definitely. We fought though. In the first three quarters, I think we did a good job. Like you said, we have to finish the games. Last quarter, they had like 38 points or something like that, so we just have to know how to finish the games."
On Impact Of Turnovers:
"Down the road, we just have to do a better job to keep the ball alive."
Trey Burke
On Team Playing A Great Game For Three And A Half Quarters:
"Yeah, you know, like you said, we hate losing as a team, but to come out and put up our best fight for three quarters against such a good Portland team when they're just as good as they are at home, it hurts knowing that we could have won that game."
On Turnovers:
"Right, we have to just continue to take care of the ball. When the pressure starts to turn up, we have to be able to match that type of intensity. I think if we do that, then we'll start getting more benefits of the whistle. The more aggressive we are as a team, the more calls you will probably get and I just think we're being a little too assertive with the lead."
On The Rest He Got On The All-Star Break And If It's Helping His Game:
"I think so. The rest that I got over All-Star weekend wasn't the type of rest that I wanted, but it was enough and I think it's helped me out starting off this second half of the season. I just have to continue to be aggressive and make plays for others on this team."
Tyrone Corbin
On The Game Getting Away From The Team Tonight:
“Well, I thought the pressure in the fourth quarter. Give their veterans credit, I thought in that fourth quarter we had a nice cushion and we got a turnover that got a three-point shot and we made another mistake and they scored on it and they ran from there. So, give them the credit. Their veterans took them through in the fourth and we didn't respond to it. It's part of growing with a young group, what it takes to finish games out. They were the aggressive team tonight.”
On Portland Going To The Line 13 Times In The Fourth Quarter:
“They were attacking, they were attacking. They had their hands on and they were attacking us and we didn't match the energy that they had. Veteran guys know how to finish, especially when they're down and that's a growing thing. We're trying to grow to it to figure out what it takes to close out ball games. They got us off our spots, they got us out a little bit and they attacked the basket and we weren't shooting jump shots. So, give them the credit.”