This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Al Jefferson scored 24 points and Mo Williams added 20 to lead the Utah Jazz to a 112-102 victory over Portland on Monday night at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Jazz, seeking their fifth straight win, missed their first three shots. But they quickly got untracked.
Randy Foye, who tied a franchise record with eight three-pointers in Saturday's win over Brooklyn, buried two more in the opening 4 1/2 minutes.
Utah owned a 20-13 lead when Foye made two free throws, Williams nailed another three-pointer and Jefferson scored from the lane.
The Jazz took a 29-15 lead into the final two minutes of the first quarter, but they missed their final four shots and Portland narrowed its deficit to 29-19.
In the second quarter, Utah owned a 40-32 lead. But Victor Claver hit a 15-footer off the baseline and a straight-away three-pointer and Blazers stayed close during the final five minutes of the half.
The Jazz and Trail Blazers traded baskets during most of the third quarter, but Williams hit two three-pointers and Jefferson scored during an 8-2 run in the final 80 seconds.
Utah took an 87-74 lead into the fourth quarter, which it opened with a 10-4 burst to pull away from Portland, which has lost five in a row.