(My Sportsbook) - The Portland Trail Blazers shoot for their fourth consecutive win Saturday when they welcome the Utah Jazz to the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the opener of a quick two-game homestand on Wednesday when LaMarcus Aldridge totaled 25 points and nine rebounds, as Portland routed the Charlotte Bobcats, 88-74. Brandon Roy added 17 points for the Blazers, who improved to a gaudy 17-5 as the host this season. Greg Oden scored 14 points to match his 14 boards, while Jerryd Bayless dropped 11 points. The Jazz, meanwhile, snapped a season-long four-game skid Friday in Salt Lake City when Deron Williams scored 24 points, doled out 12 assists and had four steals to lead Utah in a 110-90 romp over the Oklahoma City Thunder at EnergySolutions Arena. Mehmet Okur added 20 points for the banged-up Jazz, who continue to play without star forwards Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko. Paul Millsap filled the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds and a career-high seven assists. C.J. Miles and Ronnie Brewer tallied 15 points apiece in the win. Boozer, who has been out since November, remains on the shelf indefinitely after left knee surgery, while Kirilenko underwent ankle surgery on Friday and is expected to miss three-to-four additional weeks. Utah, which is just 8-15 on the road this season, has already beaten the Blazers twice this season in Salt Lake City. The Jazz have lost four straight in the series at Portland, however. |
