Down to seven players for a majority of the second half on the second game of a back-to-back in Salt Lake City.
The Portland Trail Blazers had their backs against the walls but they battled and came up short on the back of a goaltending no-call in the final seconds of the game.
Here's what happened when Dame went to tie the game vs. the Jazz... pic.twitter.com/bBh83h0H0Y
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2020
Lillard continues red-hot form
Damian Lillard played 43 minutes, including all of the second half, and dropped 42 points (16-30 FGs; 8-14 3Ps), 27 of which came as part of a red-hot first half. He also finished with six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks
This is the sixth time he has scored 40 or more in the last nine games.
Damian Lillard had his seventh 40-point game this season, tied for the 3rd-most in the NBA.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 8, 2020
It also tied Clyde Drexler in 1988-89 for the most in a season in Blazers history. pic.twitter.com/DC7H32Icgd
With the Memphis Grizzlies losing to the 76ers earlier in the day, the Trail Blazers had a chance to make up some ground in the race for West's eighth seed by recording a win. This comes just a day after they had clinched a crucial tie-breaker with a win against the San Antonio Spurs.
The Trail Blazers had three other players finish in double digits, led by 27 from CJ McCollum, another player that played all of the second half.
Jazz snap 5-game losing streak
Although controversial, the Jazz will take this win - something they haven't tasted in the past five games. For the Jazz, the five straight losses came on the back of 19 wins in 21 games.
For the hosts, six players scored in double figures led by 27 (10-16 FGs) from Bojan Bogdanovic. They rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to, at one point leading by seven in the fourth quarter.
With a deeper roster available, the Jazz dominated the paint and the transition, outscoring the Trail Blazers by 26 (66-40) in the paint and by 12 (20-8) in transition.
How did Blazers get down to seven players?
Prior to tip-off, the Blazers had nine players that were available to play in this one with Hassan Whiteside missing this game due to left lower leg contusions. The Blazers were already without Nassir Little (left ankle sprain), Rodney Hood (left ruptured Achilles tendon), Zach Collins (left shoulder dislocation) and Jusuf Nurkic (left leg fracture).
In the final seconds of the first quarter, Anfernee Simons headed to the locker room after hitting his head on the floor. He didn't return to the game with a concussion.
Among the remaining eight, Trevor Ariza got tossed out of the game, early in the second quarter, for his reactions to a no-call by the referees.
Trevor Ariza was ejected after this heated reaction to a no-call. pic.twitter.com/tTnkb8EQKO
— ESPN (@espn) February 8, 2020
Afte this loss, the Blazers are the 9th seed in the West with a record of 24-29, 2.5 games behind the eighth seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Among the teams that are in with a shot for the West's eight seed - San Antonio Spurs, Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, and the Sacramento Kings - the Trail Blazers have the second easiest remaining schedule, as per Tankathon.