Deni Avdija scored 24 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 112-90 victory over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Salt Lake City. Damian Lillard contributed 22 points and four assists in the win, which marked the fourth victory for the Trail Blazers in their last five games.
Early Dominance and Momentum
The game began at a hectic pace with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Damian Lillard proved decisive early, scoring 11 of the Blazers' first 14 points. Lillard was the only Portland player to score from the field during the first six and a half minutes of the contest.
As the first quarter progressed, Portland increased its defensive intensity, generating turnovers and building a significant lead. A 17-0 run for the Trail Blazers broke the game open, placing the Jazz on the defensive for the remainder of the afternoon. Portland held a lead of as many as 19 points during the first half and entered the intermission with a 59-42 advantage.
Portland Offensive Leaders
Deni Avdija paced all scorers with 24 points, including 10 points from the free-throw line. Avdija shot 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, finishing with 13 free-throw attempts and 5 rebounds.
Damian Lillard finished with 22 points on 6-for-17 shooting from the field and 3-for-10 from three-point range. Lillard also recorded four assists and two steals. Despite not being his most efficient shooting performance, Lillard's aggressive penetration was noted as a key factor in the Blazers' success.
Jazz Struggle Against Portland Defense
The Jazz struggled to contend with Portland's energy and aggression on both ends of the court. The Trail Blazers won the second-chance points battle 18-6 and outshot Utah 41-26 from the free-throw line. Defensively, Portland forced 19 turnovers and held the Jazz to under 40% shooting from the field and below 30% from three-point range.
For Utah, Darryn Peterson led the team with 16 points. Other notable performances for the Jazz included Ace Bailey, who scored 9 points, and Brice Sensabaugh, who contributed 12 points. The Jazz finished the game with 90 points and 37% shooting from the field.
Center Rotation and Evaluation
The game also highlighted Portland's rotation at the center position. While Robert Williams III returned to the lineup, Yang Hansen was given minutes at center, finishing with 6 points and 5 rebounds in 13 minutes of play.
Head Coach Micah Nori continues to evaluate the third-string center position, which includes candidates such as Brandon Carlson and Micah Potter. Hansen's productive run occurred late in the game, after the outcome had largely been decided, including two three-pointers.
Looking Ahead
The Trail Blazers will travel to Denver to face the 3-2 Denver Nuggets on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:00 PM Pacific. The Jazz will look to recover from the decisive loss as they continue their season schedule.
Roster Notes
The Utah Jazz roster for the game included inactive players Jusuf Nurkic, Jaren Jackson Jr., Harrison Ingram, Kobe Bufkin, and Trey Alexander. Portland's inactive list featured John Tonje, Jayson Kent, Shaedon Sharpe, and Ja Morant.
