Once again filling in for David Locke, Scott Garrard will do his best to provide a live blog of tonight's game:

END OF GAME, Jazz 111 Portland 101

- Poor free throw shooting down the stretch kept Portland from making any kind of run in the final minutes of this game.

- Korver's shot was off, but the energy he brought to the court was impressive.  This guy will be fan favorite for a long time -- or unitl he opts out of his contract in a year and a half.

- As I previously mentioned, every time Portland made a run, the Jazz answered right back.  This is the kind of 4th quarter performance we haven't seen in a long time. 

- This just in: LaMarcus Aldridge is very good.  Brandon Roy isn't too bad either. 

4TH QUARTER, Jazz 103 Portland 93 (3:54 Remaining)

- Aldridge is well on his way to 40 points.  He has been very, very impressive.

- It may not hold up, but every time Portland has made a run, the Jazz have answered.  This has not something we have seen during this recent stretch of Jazz games.  Portland is throwing every blow they have and the Jazz are taking them and responding with their own. 

- Korver realized his three isn't falling and has been passing the ball well.  Had a nice assist to Andrei for a three and then posted up on a bucket and a foul.  Has five points so far here in the fourth and has reached rock star status here at the ESA.

4TH QUARTER, Utah 89 Portland 83 (10:06 Remaining):

- Brandon Roy just hit a jumper over Korver and attempted another one the next time down the court.  Safe to say Roy likes this matchup.

- Korver attempted two more threes and missed.  This man has never seen a shot he doesn't like.

3RD QUARTER, Utah 83 Portland 74 (2:24 Remaining):

- Jazz on a 22-8 run since last entry.  Offense has really started clicking as Deron has tried to take the game over by slashing to the basket and kicking out.  Jazz have really picked up the tempo of the game. 

- CJ Miles just threw a bad pass on a fast break opportunity and heard about it from Sloan --- but, Sloan left him in the game.  Good to see Jerry let guys work through their mistakes instead of yanking them out of the game.

- Aldridge has 29 points in this game, but has tried to do to much.  His one on one play has taken the Blazers out of their rhythm offensively.

3RD QUARTER, Portland 66 Utah 61 (7:35 Remaining):

- Jazz picking up a slew of careless fouls which has already put them in the penalty.  Portland is again crisp on offense and getting every look they want.

- Jazz offense has slipped back into 1st quarter mode.  Korver hasn't played yet, and small pockets of the crowd are chanting "Bring Back Korver".   For some reason, most of those doing the chanting are women.  Not sure what that's about.

- Coach Tom Nissalke just mentioned that Texas could have had LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Durrant, and CJ Miles all on the same team.  Impressive.

HALFTIME Jazz 52 Portland 50:

- Korver missed his next two shots, but the spark he brought to the court, and the spark he brought to the crowd turned this game around in a hurry. He picked up a steal and a block shot to turn the arena into a bizarre circus like atmosphere. Suddenly, the Jazz are hustling more, playing better defense and look like an entirely different team. 

- Jazz ball movement looked much better against the zone late in the second quarter.  Certainly helped Utah starting hitting some outside shots to help stretch that d.

- People will talk about Korver and Memo's play as to why the Jazz have the lead, but remember it was Harpring that hit three straight shots to help keep the Jazz close with Portland when it appeared that the Blazers were close to blowing this game wide open.

2ND QUARTER, Portland 41 Jazz 40 (5:12 Remaining):

Kyle Korver hit his first three -- and yes, the place erupted.  Wow.  Korver is the most popular man in Utah right now.  Massive riots at the Fanzz store to purchase his #26 jersey.

2ND QUARTER, Portland 39 Utah 35 (5:46 Remaining):

Kyle Korver has checked  into the game -- TO A STANDING OVATION.  If he hits a three, this place will officially erupt.

2ND QUARTER, Portland 38 Utah 31 (6:50 Remaining):

- Being a college basketball nut, I have a massive man crush on the Portland zone.  To get an NBA team playing defense like this - all of them on the same page, collapsing the lane, and all disciplined in their roles is amazing. 

- If the Jazz continue to stuggle against this zone, you may see Kyle Korver sooner than we thought.  Someone is going to have to hit an outside shot.

- Matt Harpring has hit back to back shots to trim the Portland lead to seven.  He is carrying this team right now offensively.

END OF 1ST QUARTER, Portland 29 Utah 23:

- No use sugar coating this thing, Jazz look uninspired and uninterested in playing defense.  Sure Portland is making a their outside shots, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of energy or desire on defense.  Aldridge and Roy are on fire with a combined 17 points in the first quarter.

- Jazz were down by as many as 12 points, but did catch fire with a late mini run thanks to their point guard play - which does not include Deron Williams.  Suprisingly it was Jason Hart who got the Jazz out of their offensive rut and provided a much needed spark.

- Portland is really fun to watch.  They are very loose and do not look like a team feeling the stress of a 13 game winning streak.  They are making the extra pass, playing solid defense, and everyone seems to be making plays.   Don't overlook the play of Steve Blake.  He has brought a ton of veteren leadership to this team and Brandon Roy credited him for the Trailblazers success.  He forced Deron into two early turnovers.

1ST QUARTER, Portland 15 Utah 10 (5:45 Remaining)

- Portland quickly goes to the zone and the Jazz struggle hitting the outside shot.  Once again, Portland has quickly exposed the Jazz' achilles heel on offense.

- LaMarcus Aldridge is lighting up the Jazz with eight early points.  He has an impressive arsenal; turnaround jumper, slashing to the basket.  Jazz have no answer for his athleticism.

PREGAME:

- Despite still injured, Andrei Kirilenko will not only play tonight, but will also start.

- Kyle Korver will play tonight -- a significant amount of buzz around the newest Jazz acquisition in the arena.