Trail Blazers Lose to Utah Jazz

The final score was 111-101, Portland was trying for its 14th Straight Victory.

Photo courtesy: NBA

(SALT LAKE CITY) - Portland had a three second technical called against them just after the Jazz took the lead for the first time in the game during the second quarter.

A foul was called against Brandon Roy as the second quarter drew to a close, with the Blazers trying desperately to take control of the ball and hold onto their lead.

The Trail Blazers have already surpassed the 12 game streak it had in 2001-02, making the 13 straight wins the second longest streak in franchise history, the longest being 16 games in 1990-91.

The team hoped to make it a 14 in a row, and a 3 game winning streak against the Jazz. The radio announcers said going into halftime that it looks at this point like it could be anybody's game.

The Portland Trail Blazers led by up to 12 points in the first quarter. They would have a fight on their hands by the Jazz who weren't going to give the Blazers their 14th consecutive victory without a major effort.

The third quarter began with more action from Utah but Portland scored also and the score tied at 54-54. The Blazers took the lead back as the score rose to 59-54.

The third quarter began with another score from Utah but Portland scored also and the score reached 54-54. The Blazers took the lead back as the score closed to 59-58.

The Blazers then increased the gap to 62-58. Then furthered the lead to a more comfortable 66-60. Utah scored again though, and the score was soon 68-65.

Utah took a time out with 5:57 in the third quarter with the Trail Blazers leading at 71-68. Soon the tables turned again after tying the game at 71-71, the Jazz retook their earlier brief lead bringing the score to 74-71, then Utah scored again and raised their lead to 77-71. It was the beginning of the end of the game.

A free throw brought Portland one point bringing the score to 77-72. More free throws increased Portland's score to 77-74. But things deteriorated and the Blazers took time out with 2:24 in the third quarter as the Jazz enjoyed their biggest lead of the game so far: 83-74.

Utah and Portland both scored when the hit the court again, bringing the score to 87-78 Jazz. A free throw from LeMarcus Aldrich brought the score to 89-83.

The Jazz had a six point lead entering the fourth quarter. Soon Portland was able to get control of the ball, and an out of bounds was called against Utah.

Another foul was called against Paul Milsap, it was his fourth of the night. The score moved to 89-85. But a three pointer meant a score of 92-87 with the Jazz leading the way.

The Blazers changed that when they scored again, and a three point play by Utah's Kyle Korver brought the score to 97-89. He performed extremely well in his first game with the Jazz.

Portland scored again for a score of 97-91, trying hard to close the lead that many predicted they could handle. But the score was soon 101-91 and not looking good for Portland when the Blazers called another time out.

Carlos Boozer scored bringing it to 103-93 maintaining Utah's ten point lead. The clock had 3:45 left as the Blazers tried to close the lead in the final moments of the game.

A free throw brought it to 103-94, but the Jazz scored again bringing it to 106-94. A free throw moved the score to 105-95, but ten points and a 14the straight win looked far away with less than two minutes left in the game.

Then a ray of hope came as the Blazers scored, bringing the score to 105-98. Then a free throw added one for the Jazz, and they scored again bringing it to 107-98. And that ray of hope faded as the Jazz scored again and Portland knew that there was no way to save a game that started out well.

The final score was 111-101.