Jazz-Trail Blazers Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Apr 17 2012 3:11PM

The Utah Jazz are playing with a sense of urgency as they try to make the playoffs - something that was apparent in their last game.

Coming off a triple-overtime thriller, the Jazz visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

With four games remaining, Utah finds itself a half-game behind Phoenix and Utah for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz (32-30) hold the tiebreaker over the Rockets but not the Suns, whom they face next Tuesday.

Desperately needing a win after back-to-back road losses, Utah earned a 123-121 triple-OT victory over Dallas on Monday, emerging with the win after blowing an eight-point lead late in regulation.

It was the second marathon game in less than a month for the Jazz, who lost in four overtimes at Atlanta on March 25.

"Right now we just got to win every game, no excuse," forward Al Jefferson said. "This is a big test for us. We just got to see where our heart is and I know everybody in the locker room wants to make the playoffs. So we are going to fight and we are going to fight 'til the end. That's all we can do."

Jefferson led the Jazz with 28 points Monday while matching a career high with 26 rebounds, while DeMarre Carroll had 15 points and six assists in a career-high 45 minutes.

While the Jazz were thrilled to come away with the victory, there was a lot to be unhappy about, such as 21 turnovers, a blown lead late in regulation and six missed free throws in the extra periods.

Still, coach Tyrone Corbin liked how Utah responded, particularly since it had struggled late its the previous two games. The Jazz went scoreless for nearly five minutes in the final period against New Orleans on Friday and failed to protect a six-point lead in a loss to Memphis on Saturday.

"You can't reiterate enough about the character of this group of guys," Corbin said. "We may make some mistakes, but the team is going to continue to fight through."

The Jazz have defeated the Trail Blazers twice this season, most recently winning 102-97 on April 2.

Portland (28-34) was eliminated from playoff contention following a 125-107 loss at Phoenix on Monday - its third straight defeat and fifth in six games.

With LaMarcus Aldridge and Raymond Felton out due to injury, the Blazers also sat Nicolas Batum as they allowed some younger players to get extra minutes. Luke Babbitt scored a career-high 18 points and rookie Nolan Smith added a season-high 14.

Portland struggled defensively, though, allowing the Suns to shoot 60.0 percent while scoring 27 points on the fast break. The Blazers are giving up 103.9 points per game this month - up from the 97.3 they are allowing for the season.

"It's disappointing," guard Jamal Crawford said of being eliminated from playoff contention. "It's been a trying season but if we could take one positive out of it, it's to see these young guys get better and see (interim coach) Kaleb (Canales) get better each game as well as each of us try to end on a positive note."

This is the final home game for Portland, which plays three straight on the road and visits the Jazz to end the season next Thursday. After Wednesday, Utah's remaining games are at home.

Harris has 27 in Jazz's 112-91 win over Blazers

By ANNE M. PETERSON
Posted Apr 19 2012 1:45AM

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) With three of his career-high six 3-pointers coming in the first quarter against the Trail Blazers, Devin Harris knew it was going to be a good night for the Jazz.

"It does wonders when you're shooting wide-open shots," said Harris, who finished with 27 points in Utah's 112-91 victory over Portland on Wednesday night. "I had a couple of those that kind of got me going, and it just snowballed from there."

Harris' hot shooting was just what the Jazz needed in their ongoing effort to secure a playoff spot. With just three games to play, Utah is locked in a battle with Houston, Phoenix, Dallas and Denver for the remaining playoff berths in the Western Conference.

With the win over the Blazers, Utah moved into the eighth and final spot, a half-game up on the Suns. Utah finishes the season with games at home against Orlando, Phoenix and the Blazers.

"We feel great. We're in the mix," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We're just going to continue to take care of our business. We can't afford to watch and see what anybody else is doing. We've got to make sure we win our games and whatever happens from there on happens."

Gordon Hayward added 23 points for the Jazz, who led by as many as 27 points. Al Jefferson had 11 points and 10 rebounds for his team-high 29th double-double this season.

Wesley Matthews had 21 points for the Blazers, who had already been eliminated from the playoffs.

Midway through the final quarter Utah's Derrick Favors and DeMarre Carroll bumped heads. Carroll stayed prone on the court for several moments after the collision, but walked to the bench.

Both players were fine after the game and were cleared to play against the Magic on Saturday night.

Utah was coming off a 123-121 triple-overtime win over Dallas on Monday night. Earlier Wednesday, the NBA fined Delonte West $25,000 for jabbing his finger into Hayward's ear during the game. The league called the action a "physical taunt."

It was the home finale for the Blazers, who have had a turbulent season that started with the surprise retirement of All-Star Brandon Roy and included the dismissal of popular coach Nate McMillan at the trade deadline.

The Blazers, playing under interim head coach Kaleb Canales, were formally eliminated from the playoffs after a 125-107 loss to Phoenix on Monday.

Portland was playing without starters Joel Przybilla (bronchitis) and Raymond Felton (right Achilles). The Blazers also sat shooter Jamal Crawford. Last week, Portland shut down LaMarcus Aldridge for the rest of the season with a right hip injury. The All-Star forward will have arthroscopic surgery in the coming weeks.

Portland started Hasheem Thabeet at center and rookie Nolan Smith at guard. Smith, J.J. Hickson and Luke Babbitt had 16 points apiece for the Blazers, as the team experimented with younger players.

Hickson, who was picked up by the Blazers on waivers after the trade deadline, said he was disappointed that Portland didn't end the season with a victory at the Rose Garden.

"Even when we're losing, they're still cheering and they're yelling at the top of their lungs," he said about the fans. "That's something you can't buy and that's something you can't take for granted. I've played for other teams where it's not like that."

The Jazz led by as many as 11 points in the first quarter but Portland closed the gap to 32-30 in the second on Nicolas Batum's dunk. It was as close as the Blazers would get, and the Jazz went on to lead 57-39 at halftime.

Harris had all six of his 3-pointers and 25 points in the first half.

Paul Millsap's driving layup made it 68-45 midway through the third quarter. Alec Burks' jumper put the Jazz up 92-68 with 8:52 left in the game.

"We've got three games at home where we play well," Harris said. "We've put ourselves in a nice position but we've still got to go out and play the games."

Notes: Canales, who has never lacked for enthusiasm, addressed the crowd before the game, punctuating his thanks with a "Go Blazers!" and a raised fist. Canales started with the team as an unpaid intern in 2004. ... Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll attended the game with Blazers owner Paul Allen, who also owns the NFL team. ... Portland has made at least six 3-pointers in 20 consecutive games, tying the franchise record set in 2008.

Notebook: Jazz 112, Blazers 91

Posted Thursday April 19, 2012 1:13AM

By Kerry Eggers, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Devin Harris scored 25 of his 27 points in the first half and Utah never trailed in its 112-91 win over Portland Wednesday night at the Rose Garden.

Gordon Hayward added 23 points and Al Jefferson had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz (33-30), who remained in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race with three games to play in the regular season.

Wesley Matthews scored 21 points for Portland (28-35), which played its final home game of the season.

QUOTABLE: "We're right in the mix. We just have to keep continuing to take care of business. We can't afford to watch and see what anybody else is doing. We have to make sure we win our games, and whatever happens from there, happens."
-- Utah coach Tyrone Corbin, on the four-team race for the final two West playoff spots.

THE STAT: Utah was 10 for 17 from 3-point range, with Harris making 6 of 10 attempts.

TURNING POINT: Portland rallied from a 19-8 deficit to tie the score at 28-28 early in the second quarter. Utah responded with an 18-7 run for a 46-35 lead; the Blazers were never within single digits the rest of the way.

HOT: Harris was unconscious in the first half, sinking 8 of 12 shots from the field, 6 of 9 from 3-point range and 3 of 4 from the foul line.

NOT: Portland's Nicolas Batum made 1 of 6 shots from the field in the first half, then retired to the sideline due to a sore left knee.

QUOTABLE II: "I had a couple of those go in, and it just snowballed from there."
-- Harris

INSIDE THE ARENA: Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was watching courtside with Paul Allen, owner of the Seahawks and Blazers.

GOOD MOVE: Corbin sat four of his starters the entire fourth quarter to give them rest for the final three games.

BAD MOVE: Utah's DeMarre Carroll and Derrick Favors hit heads going for a rebound in the fourth quarter. Neither player returned to the game.

QUOTABLE III: "He's coming around. He's turned the corner, just being aggressive. He's doing a great job for us."
-- Corbin on Harris.

NOTABLE: Portland's Luke Babbitt was 2 for 7 from 3-point range, leaving him at .464 (39-84) for the season. Babbitt needs to make five treys in the final three games to qualify for the NBA leaders. New York's Steve Novak went into Wednesday leading the league at .472.

UP NEXT: For the Trail Blazers, at Memphis Saturday, at San Antonio Monday, at Utah Thursday. For the Jazz, Orlando Saturday, Phoenix Tuesday, Portland Thursday.

• Jazz: Miles, Watson
• Trail Blazers: Williams, Williams

• Jazz: --
• Trail Blazers: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #71 Rodney Mott, #68 Marat Kogut
• Attendance: 20545
• Duration: 2:03