Utah Jazz: Missing pieces not a problem in Jazz win over the Trail Blazers

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz were without a whole lot to begin their game Monday night.

Two starters. An effective offense and interior defense. Spark and team chemistry.

All missing.

Al Jefferson and Raja Bell, sidelined with injuries, didn't heroically return to the EnergySolutions Arena court to save the day against the Portland Trail Blazers.

No problem.

Turns out, the Jazz didn't need them to rally out of a double-digit hole and earn an exciting 93-89 win over their Northwest Division rivals.

Earl Watson's revitalizing energy, Gordon Hayward's revived aim, Paul Millsap's resolve and rebounding, Devin Harris' recharged drive and re-engerized contributions down the roster helped restore and rev up both the home team and the crowd.

"Tremendous, tremendous team effort tonight," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "One to 13, the guys did a great job just staying in there. Things weren't going well for us early, but we stayed together, kept encouraging each other and forcing each other to play a little harder."

That they certainly did.

Just ask the Blazers, who built an 11-point lead on the cold-shooting Jazz (30.4 percent in the first half) and looked well on their way to a road win.

Until the Jazz fire got reignited in the second half.

"We got outworked. I mean, that's what it comes down to," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "That team wanted it more than we did. It showed in their play."

Utah began turning things around midway through the third quarter when Harris hit a long jumper to bring a double-digit Portland lead down to nine.

From there, the Jazz kept gnawing away the Blazers' cushion, pulling within one at 70-69 on a pair of Harris free throws at the end of the third.

Nicolas Batum went on a 3-point spree early in the fourth to restore Portland's lead to five, but a couple of rim-rocking Jeremy Evans dunks helped get the crowd and the Jazz back in hopped-up mode.

The dunks helped energize Utah, in need of a win with a rough road ahead, as it poured it on over the next 51/2 minutes during a 13-0 stretch.

"I don't know anyway else to put it, it was just fun," said Miles, who began the spurt with a running jumper. "Everybody was playing hard, playing for each other, everybody was helping out.