Joe Ingles and his NBA-leading Utah Jazz have wasted little time getting back to winning ways.
Coming off rare back-to-back defeats, including an overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns in a clash of the top two teams in the Western Conference on Wednesday, the Jazz (39-13) comfortably beat the Portland Trailblazers 122-103 on Thursday.
They haven’t lost three straight all season and weren’t about to start now as Donovan Mitchell scored 37 points and the Jazz claimed their 23rd straight home victory.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 21 rebounds, while Australian veteran Joe Ingles added 13 points and six assists.
Damian Lillard scored 23 points and C.J. McCollum added 19 to lead the Trail Blazers, who lost for the third time in four games.
“It was a must-win,” said Mitchell. “First off, we don’t lose two in a row and then you definitely don’t lose three.”
Jazz coach Quin Snyder put the win down to defense and especially defensive rebounding in the third quarter which broke the game open.
The Jazz went on a 25-4 run over a six-minute stretch to take a 93-72 lead. Mitchell, Gobert and Ingles combined to make 10 free throws during that stretch. Ingles and Mitchell also combined to score or assist on seven baskets during the decisive run.
Meanwhile , the Suns (36-14) struggled to back up from their victory over the Jazz, falling 113-103 to the Los Angeles Clippers (34-18) who are third in the western conference.
Paul George scored 33 points, Kawhi Leonard added 27 for the Clippers as they ended the Suns’ winning sgtreak at seven games..
George was 7 of 9 from 3-point range in 30 minutes in his eighth 30-point game of the season.
Phoenix didn’t have enough down the stretch. Devin Booker led the way for the Suns with 24 points, and Mikal Bridges had 20.
Earlier,Jimmy Butler scored 28 points to lead the Miami Heat past the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 110-104.
Recently-acquired Andre Drummond returned from a four-game absence and had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers. Drummond hurt his right big toe in his Los Angeles debut on March 31.
The Lakers continued without injured LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James missed his 10th consecutive game because of a sprained ankle and Davis has sat out the last 24 contests with a calf strain. Forward Kyle Kuzma also was sidelined Thursday with a calf strain.
The Chicago Bulls registered their third straight win thanks to Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine each scoring 22 points in a 122-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
LaVine also had 15 assists, and Lauri Markkanen came off the bench to score 18 points, making eight of 10 shots.
The visiting Cleveland Cavaliers proved too strong for the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning 129-102.
Collin Sexton had 27 points and was assisted by Taurean Prince (22), with Australian Matthew Dellavedova posting six rebounds, seven assist and two points during his 21-minute cameo.