Jazz Cruise to Victory Over Trail Blazers: Three Key Takeaways

The Utah Jazz defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City, 115-99. Utah was in control of the game from start to finish and are now 2-0 in the in-season tournament.

The Jazz are +22 points in the tournament games, which could come into play in a tiebreaker. This is also the first time the Jazz held their opponent to under 100 points this year.

Shooting guard Jordan Clarkson led all scorers with 30 points on an efficient 13-for-19 shooting. Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 26 points in a losing cause.

Let’s break down the takeaways in Utah’s first consecutive wins of the season.

Keyonte George has a Pass First Mentality

The 2023 lottery pick shows that he has the skill set to be a point guard in the NBA. George has a pass-first mentality and a knack for delivering the ball in tight spots.

Against the Blazers, George finished with 15 points while handing out seven assists. Most importantly, the young rookie only turned the ball over twice. Utah turned the ball 12 times as a team, down from their 18.5 average on the year.

The Jazz Missed Walker Kessler

Utah didn’t have an answer for Deandre Ayton. The former No. 1 overall pick scored 22 points on 10-for-17 shooting with little rim resistance from the Jazz.

Ayton is one of the few players in the league that can be effective without stretching the floor. Kessler matches up well against Ayton, and the Jazz missed the rim protection provided when their starting center is on the floor. Kessler is projected to miss at least another two games before being reevaluated.

Jordan Clarkson Silences Critics

Clarkson has taken some heat in this young season due to some efficiency issues and a high turnover rate, but Tuesday was his time to shine. Clarkson had a season-low of one turnover while delivering four three-pointers on 68% shooting from the field.

Clarkson was the best player on the floor, but how long will it last? The former Sixth Man of the Year has lit up the scoreboard in his last three contests. Clarkson has averaged 29.6 points over the three games and is making shots at the most opportune times.

Next up for Utah is the Phoenix Suns at the Delta Center on Friday. The tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.

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