The Portland Trail Blazers took on the Utah Jazz in a Wednesday night (Dec. 21) preseason game. It was the second time in three nights that the two teams had played, but this game was much closer than the first one.

LaMarcus Aldridge was back in the lineup after sitting out the first game, but starting center Marcus Camby was getting a rest. The starting lineup for the night was Raymond Felton at point guard, Wesley Matthews at shooting guard, Gerald Wallace at small forward , Aldridge at power forward and Kurt Thomas at center. This is exactly why Thomas got signed during the offseason, because he can fill in for Camby when nights off become a need.

On Monday (Dec. 19) I wrote about how easily the Blazers handled the Jazz, but this game was not like the first one at all. There was certainly a lot of second half excitement though, especially when the Jazz went up by 10 points with just over eight minutes left in the game. With just four minutes left in the game, the Blazers had cut the lead to 82-78 and had a chance to score and make it even closer. It got even more exciting in the last few moments though.

With just 56 seconds left on the clock Aldridge stole the ball and Matthews hit a three-point shot to bring the Blazers within one point at 90-89. The Blazers then got the ball back with 28 second left and a chance to win it but Aldridge missed a shot and the comeback came to a halt. The Blazers had one more chance with two second left but Crawford missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game. Though it ended with a 92-89 loss, this is the exciting basketball that we have waited to see through the NBA lockout.

The Blazers finished just 28-of-79 from the field (35 percent) and 7-of-22 from three-point range (32 percent). It was a tough night for Jamal Crawford (3-of-16) and Aldridge (5-of-17), but hopefully they both snap out of it when the preseason comes to an end.

The first regular season game for the Blazers is on Monday, Dec. 26 when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the only game that the two teams will play against each other this year.

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Sources:

Blazers Full Schedule

Blazers Preseason Schedule

Blazers Team Page

Blazers Updated Roster

*Ryan is a Northwest bred sports fan that has been a Portland Trail Blazers fan for years. He doesn’t miss a game, and has high hopes that the Blazers can improve their roster during the offseason and come back even better in the 2011-12 NBA season.

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