Lillard Season-High 60 Carries Trail Blazers Over Jazz
Jan 25, 2023, 10:20 PM | Updated: 10:27 pm
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124.
Lillard’s 60 points were one shy of his career-high, and the fourth time in his career he’s scored at least 60 in a game.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points.
First Quarter
The Jazz climbed out to a 16-9 lead as all five starters scored in the opening six minutes of the game.
The Trail Blazers struggled to shoot in the first quarter, connecting on just 9-26 field goal attempts in the first quarter including 1-9 three-pointers.
Lauri Markkanen sets another record for @utahjazz 🏀#TakeNote https://t.co/LnD8nXxioy
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 26, 2023
Collin Sexton knocked down three first quarter threes and led the Jazz with nine points, while the Jazz knocked down 6-9 overall.
After one, the Jazz led Portland 31-19.
Second Quarter
The Trail Blazers knocked down 8-11 from three to open the second quarter after their slow first quarter, erasing the Jazz lead, 51-50 midway through the period.
However, the Jazz answered with a 5-0 run to slow Portland’s momentum.
The @utahjazz and @trailblazers combine for 1⃣7⃣ made threes in the second quarter in Portland#TakeNote https://t.co/WBQrgHPb0j
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 26, 2023
The Blazers knocked down 11-14 three-point attempts in the second quarter and outscored the Jazz 47-33, led by Damian Lillard’s 26 first half points.
At the break, the Jazz trailed Portland 66-64.
Third Quarter
The Blazers’ lead climbed to 10, 84-74, with 6:30 left in the third quarter.
The Jazz couldn’t slow Lillard who added 24 points in the third including Portland’s final 20 points of the third quarter, and upped his total to 50.
DAME FOR THE 50 PIECE 🚨
WATCH: https://t.co/1pomQZN8Pi pic.twitter.com/Ak8bYc6WNS
— NBA (@NBA) January 26, 2023
Four separate Jazz players had at least 10 points, led by Sexton’s 17.
After three, the Jazz trailed Portland 102-91.
Fourth Quarter
The Jazz used a 12-4 run early in the fourth to trim the Blazers’ lead to seven, 115-108, but the Trail Blazers answered with a 10-2 run to rebuild the lead to double-digits.
Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points, the 17th consecutive game that he has scored 20 or more.
Jordan Clarkson showed off the vision on this dime 👀#TakeNote https://t.co/VNc1hs4ONU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 26, 2023
Lillard finished with 60 points on 21-29 shooting.
The Jazz fell to the Trail Blazers 134-124.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
