As if a last-second loss on Thursday to the Brooklyn Nets wasn’t hurtful enough, the Portland Trail Blazers fell at the hands of fourth quarter heroics from Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, 118-113. Six Blazers scored in double figures, led by energy and heart from Josh Hart. Utah had a top-heavy attack, spearheaded by early aggression from Lauri Markkanen, steady 3-point shooting from Malik Beasley that extended their lead, and late game buckets from Clarkson that provided the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Contesting the long ball — a critique all season for the Blazers — continued to be a plague for the former number one team in the west.