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There is little question that the Utah Jazz were bad in Monday night's 88-81 preseason loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

In losing to a Portland team that didn't have Damian Lillard, the Jazz shot 31 percent from the field, went 5 for 22 from 3-point range and missed 13 free throws. It's tough to win NBA games that way.

Still, there were bright spots. Well, there was a bright spot. Alec Burks continues to play well in the preseason. Before 15,171 at EnergySolutions Arena, the shooting guard scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He played 34 minutes and shot 6 of 13 from the field.

That last statistic is noteworthy because Burks was the only Jazz starter with more than 10 field-goal attempts to even approach 50 percent shooting. If this preseason is a test of his surgically repaired shoulder, Burks is passing easily. He's arguably been Utah's best player in the preseason.

"I feel like I'm getting back into a good rhythm," Burks said. "The shoulder feels good, and I feel like I'm playing well. I feel like I can get to the basket with the best of them, so I just need to make sure my jumper is falling."

Against the Blazers, Burks was the one Jazz starter who could get to the basket consistently and create from the perimeter. He got into a good flow and stayed that way throughout the game. Burks, his teammates and his coaches have been encouraged by his play. Coming into the preseason, he hadn't played in a game since last December after suffering a torn labrum. Nobody knew how he would react to the contact of an NBA game. But he's answering those questions emphatically while displaying an improved skill-set. Burks scored 27 points against the Los Angeles Lakers; he's been difficult to stop off the dribble; and he's played all three perimeter positions. His passing has also improved.

"Alec is a guy who can create shots for himself and for his teammates," Utah coach Quin Snyder said. "There's a good balance to his game right now."

What the Jazz need right now is for others to play at Burks' level. For a second consecutive game, Utah was flat on both ends. Portland raced to a 29-16 first-quarter lead. The Blazers consistently frustrated the Jazz on both ends, and that early advantage proved to be enough cushion, although Utah would find a way to rally and take a lead in the fourth quarter.

Still, nobody is panicking.

Snyder pointed out that Monday marked just the fourth preseason game. There's plenty of time to improve, he said.

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Storylines

O Utah loses its second consecutive preseason game.

• The Jazz shoot 24 for 77 overall from the field.

• Utah has six days off before playing Portland again on the road.

Up next • Jazz at Trail Blazers. Sunday, NBA TV