(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) drives on Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) as the Utah Jazz host the Portland Trail Blazers, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City, Wednesday November 1, 2017.
When the Utah Jazz traded for Ricky Rubio, most knew the Jazz were getting a playmaker, a passer and a defender.
The Ricky Rubio that showed up in Wednesday night’s 112-103 overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers? That version of Rubio was a surprise to all.
Rubio — who has never averaged more than 11 points per game in his career — scored a season-high 30 in beating the Blazers. Eleven of those came in overtime, including a back-breaking 3-pointer that gave the Jazz a 110-103 advantage with 30 seconds remaining.
“I was open and I made a couple of shots in the fourth quarter,” Rubio said. “In overtime, I made two shots. I’m happy. This is one of the wins we’re going to remember at the end of the season, if we want to make the playoffs.”
In winning their third consecutive game before an announced crowd of 16,685 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, an offensively challenged Jazz team was able to overcome Portland because of … offense.
Utah scored 73 points after halftime, and 18 in the deciding overtime. They hit 13 of 29 3-point attempts and they were able to do so with their leading scorer Rodney Hood going scoreless in 19 minutes on 0-for-11 shooting.
So, how did the Jazz explode offensively? Rubio’s output was a significant development. It was the second time in his career that he’s scored 30 or more.
Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell picked up Hood’s slack, scoring a career-high 28 points and going shot for shot with Portland star Damian Lillard down the stretch. Mitchell hit the go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the key to start overtime, and the Jazz never trailed again.
Mitchell added six rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes as the Jazz ran a bunch of offensive possessions through him in important moments.
“I didn’t think I would come along this fast,” Mitchell said. “It was kind of surreal being out there, guarding Damian Lillard and getting plays run through me. But I just wanted to go out there and compete.”
Utah’s unsung hero was Thabo Sefolosha. The Jazz would’ve had a difficult time winning without the performance of the reserve, who scored a season-high 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He came up with three steals, made two big 3-pointers down the stretch and handed out two assists.
But it was Sefolosha’s defense on Lillard and CJ McCollum in the fourth quarter that tipped the scales in Utah’s favor. He used his quick feet and long arms to bother both. Lillard finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists — but he was corralled by Sefolosha when it mattered the most.
With the scored tied at 94, Lillard had a chance to win it for Portland. But with Sefolosha guarding him, the former Weber State star dribbled into the paint and tried a floater over Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who blocked the shot.
“We still gave ourselves a chance to get the last possessions,” Lillard said. “They made a good play defensively. I got past my guy and tried to get a floater up there, and Gobert did what he does best. He got it. And then, it’s tough to win an overtime game on the road. That’s just tough.”
The Jazz (5-3) received 16 points and 10 rebounds from Gobert and seems to be figuring stuff out. A week ago, the Jazz winning a game in which Hood went scoreless would’ve seemed far-fetched.
But as the season is progressing, the Jazz seem to be as well.
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