Deni Avdija scored 24 points and Damian Lillard added 22 to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 112-90 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The win allowed Portland to rebound from their first loss of the season, while the Jazz fell to four consecutive defeats.
Portland Dominates Early
The Blazers utilized a dominant offensive and defensive performance to secure the win, sparked by an early run that the Jazz could not overcome. Portland held Utah scoreless for nearly six minutes during a 17-0 run in the opening quarter. Jrue Holiday's free throws helped extend Portland's early advantage to 23-7 with 3:29 remaining in the first period.
Avdija was particularly efficient in the first half, scoring 19 of his 24 points and shooting 10-for-11 from the free-throw line. This surge helped Portland establish a 59-42 lead by halftime. The Blazers maintained their momentum throughout the game, building a 26-point lead by the third quarter and never facing a serious challenge from Utah in the second half.
Utah's Offensive Struggles
The outcome marked a significant statistical low for the Utah Jazz, representing the first time this season the team has failed to reach 103 points. The Blazers' defense held Utah to a 37.1% shooting percentage, which was the team's lowest shooting percentage of the season.
Utah's offense was further hampered by early struggles from key players. Lauri Markkanen, returning to the lineup after missing two games due to a sprained wrist, finished with 13 points on 3-for-14 shooting. He and Keyonte George combined to miss their first nine shots of the game. George, who averages 24.4 points per game, finished the contest with only eight points.
Key Contributors and Rebounding
The Trail Blazers' victory was aided by depth in their rotation, with Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday each contributing 14 points. Portland also controlled the glass, finishing with a 48-37 rebounding advantage over the Jazz.
For the Jazz, rookie Darryn Peterson led the scoring efforts with 16 points in the loss.
Portland Backcourt Injuries
Despite the win, the Trail Blazers continue to manage significant absences in their backcourt. The team is playing without Ja Morant, who suffered a hamstring strain against Memphis and is expected to remain out until Thanksgiving. Additionally, Shaedon Sharpe remains sidelined until the spring following knee surgery.
Upcoming Schedule
The Portland Trail Blazers are scheduled to visit the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. The Utah Jazz will travel to face the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
Game Details
The game at Delta Center saw an attendance of 17,876 spectators. The officials for the contest were Tre Maddox, Jason Goldenberg, and Brent Haskill.
