Portland vs Utah Odds & Prediction

The Portland Trail Blazers saw a six-game winning streak end at a bad time and seek to rebound when they visit the Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Portland dropped a 110-109 decision to lowly Minnesota on Monday to see its lead over Denver for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference shrink to 1 1/2 games.

Trail Blazers standout guard Damian Lillard was named Western Conference Player of the Month on Monday before scoring 25 points against the Timberwolves, but his jumper at the buzzer ricocheted off the rim. “Every game is important,” Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters after the missed opportunity. “We’re approaching every game as we’ve got to find wins to make the playoffs.” The Jazz are in a tight battle for the No. 4 seed in the West and possess a one-half game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers with five contests remaining. Utah’s task to remain ahead of the Clippers will be challenging as it closes the season with a road game against conference-leading Golden State and a home meeting with second-place San Antonio.

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (38-39): Portland was without center Jusuf Nurkic (fractured right leg) for the second straight game, and his absence was felt as Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns dominated with 34 points and 12 rebounds. Nurkic energized Portland’s late playoff push by averaging 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in 20 games after being acquired from the Nuggets, and the Trail Blazers hope to get him back for the postseason. “Obviously, he’s a big part of what we’ve done for the last six weeks, and we miss him,” Stotts said after Monday’s loss. “But he’s not here. He’s not going to be here for a while, so we’ve got to find ways to win without him.”

ABOUT THE JAZZ (47-30): Shooting guard Rodney Hood is dealing with knee soreness, but he is adamant about remaining in the lineup. “At this point, I’m just trying my best to play through it,” Hood told the Salt Lake Tribune. “I have to be honest with the training staff, and not try to be a tough guy. But at the same time, I just have to try to play through the pain, and just do what I can out there.” Hood isn’t the only ailing member of the Jazz as point guard George Hill (groin) likely will miss his fourth game while power forward Derrick Favors (knee) will sit out for the 14th consecutive time.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The teams split two meetings earlier this season and play again in Portland on Saturday.

2. Lillard is averaging 26 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists against the Jazz this campaign.

3. Utah swingman Joe Johnson is averaging 21 points against Portland this season, including a season-best 29 on Oct. 25.