Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, dribbles past Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
December 15, 2023 /Sports News - Local

Sexton and Fonteccio lead short-handed Jazz to 122-114 win over Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Collin Sexton scored 27 points, Simone Fonteccio had 24 and the Utah Jazz beat the struggling Portland Trail Blazers 122-114 on Thursday night.

Talen Horton-Tucker added 23 points for the short-handed Jazz (9-16), who led by 33 in the second half despite playing without All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George.

Fonteccio shot 7 of 8 from the field, including 5 for 5 from 3-point range.

Rookie guard Scoot Henderson had a career-high 23 points and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers (6-17), who lost their fifth straight in the opener of a five-game homestand.

Rookie forward Toumani Camara also set a career best with 18 points, and Portland got 14 points and nine rebounds from Deandre Ayton, who missed the previous three games with a knee injury.

The Jazz shot 53.3% from the field to Portland’s 41.7%.

Utah built a huge lead before both teams emptied their benches in the fourth quarter and Portland’s reserves trimmed the final margin to eight.

The Jazz won their second in a row, after defeating the New York Knicks at home on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Jazz: Play the Kings in Sacramento on Saturday.

Trail Blazers: Face the Dallas Mavericks at home on Saturday.

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