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SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Jazz capped off their preseason schedule with a home game against some familiar names, but in the end the youth of the Jazz took over.
Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter scored 21 each to lead the Jazz to a 97-91 victory over the Portland Trailblazers who played their starters late into the game. The Jazz finish the preseason 5-3 and undefeated at home.
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Favors came off the bench again and was able to find his shot that had been eluding him through the preseason. He has played significant minutes through the preseason, but only averaged 7.5 points per game. What is scarier is that he was shooting 40 percent. As a big man, that is abysmal.
"I just wanted to see shots go in," Favors said. "Previous games shots go in and out, I couldn't get into a rhythm so, this guy just wanted to see shots go in."
Coach Tyrone Corbin has known about the struggles that the young player has had.
"I think he was tired," Corbin said. "He gained a little good weight this summer and he took a little while to get used to the weight on his body. Going through two-a-days then he lost some weight. Now you are a little weak and beat up from losing the weight. And then you level off and now you kind of figure out where you are."
The offseason has been littered with stories about the weight loss of Kanter, but this hasn't been talked about as much. Favors hasn't been as dramatic a shift, but Corbin said it was there. He even added that it is something that Jazz fans might want to get used to, for Favors and the other young guys.
"Young guys are going to do that for four or five years in this league," Corbin said. "Figuring out what weight is best for them to play at. If it's a little heavier it's where they are to get a little stronger and more agile."
Kanter might have found his desired size to play. He capped off a fantastic preseason with another double-double adding 12 rebounds to his 21 points.
Two players with Utah ties made their comebacks with the Blazers. Weber State product Damian Lillard came back to the state where he rose to the number six pick and played 38 minutes to produce 12 points and five assists.
Former Jazz player Wes Matthews put up a game-high 24 points for the Blazers hitting on four of six from 3-point land. Each starting player for the Blazers scored in double-figures, but they did it mostly playing over 30 minutes.
Al Jefferson continued his consistent play with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while adding four assists. He is actually fifth on the team in the preseason in assists with 1.7 per game.
Paul Millsap and Gordon Hayward each got into double figures, scoring 10 a piece. Marvin Williams added six without shooting too much and Randy Foye started in place of injured Mo Williams at point guard to add two points.
The Jazz will host the Mavericks on Oct. 31 to start the regular season. The Mavericks will be without Dirk Nowitzki who is injured.
Contributing: Rod Zundel
