SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Jazz rally in second half,
rout Trail Blazers, 122-103
■ Portland led at halftime but Utah took over with a 25-4 run in the third quarter
By John Coon
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY —
Strong second-half defense
helped the Utah Jazz break
open a close game and extend
their franchise-record home
winning streak.
Donovan Mitchell scored
37 points to lead Utah to
its 23rd straight victory at
home, a 122-103 win over
the Portland Trail Blazers on
Thursday night, April 8.
Rudy Gobert had 18 points
and 21 rebounds, Joe Ingles
added 13 points and six as-
sists and Utah dominated the
glass by outrebounding Port-
land 58-41 while snapping a
two-game skid.
“This was a must-win,”
Mitchell said. “We kind of
put our focus on that, not
letting three go to teams
who are playoff bound.”
Damian Lillard scored 23
points and C.J. McCollum
added 19 to lead the Trail
Blazers, who lost for the
third time in four games.
“We couldn’t get stops,”
Lillard said.
Utah surged on offense
in the third quarter when
it erased a six-point defi cit
and built a double-digit lead
while scoring 40 points on
57% shooting from the fi eld.
Defense keyed the surge.
The Jazz held Portland to
19 points on 32% shooting
in the quarter. They also
had a 19-6 advantage on
rebounds.
“Our defense was the
biggest thing,” Utah coach
Quin Snyder said. “And our
defensive rebounding in the
Twins welcome
fans by beating
Mariners, 10-2
By Dave Campbell
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins welcomed
their fans back to the ballpark by hitting like they
wanted to give them all souvenirs.
Though Target Field was at coronavirus-limited
capacity, the Twins played like the place was full.
Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez hit
home runs to back another strong start by José Ber-
ríos, and the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 10-2 on
Thursday, April 8.
Berríos (2-0), who no-hit Milwaukee over six innings
in his fi rst turn, threw two more hitless innings before
surrendering his fi rst run of the season in the third.
Pulled with two outs in the sixth, Berríos tipped his
cap to the sellout crowd of 9,675 as he strutted off the
mound.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment a really long
time. Everybody knows here the fans are great people.
They like baseball and are always cheering for us no
matter what happens,” Berríos said.
Said Arraez: “They’re everything for us.”
Garver had the three-run shot that got the Twins
going in their home opener, a straightaway screamer to
center fi eld that landed in the living wall of junipers for
a 3-1 lead in the third inning against Mariners starter
Marco Gonzales (0-1).
Tribune News Service
Portland’s C.J. McCollum, shown here on April 3 against Oklahoma City, scored 19
points in the Blazers’ loss at Utah on Thursday, April 8.
SUMMER OLYMPICS
Tokyo raises COVID alert
level to help curb spread
TIP INS
• Trail Blazers: Jusuf
Nurkic played on a minutes
restriction after a one-game
absence due to right knee
infl ammation. Nurkic
fi nished with 10 points, six
rebounds, and four assists
in 22 minutes. ... Portland
outscored Utah 10-7 in fast-
break points.
• Jazz: Jordan Clarkson
did not play because of a
sprained right ankle. It was
the fi rst game Clarkson
missed this season. ... Derrick
Favors passed Mehmet Okur
for 10th place on the Jazz
career scoring list. Favors
has scored 7,527 points with
Utah. He fi nished with seven
points against Portland. ...
Utah is now 9-1 in games
with zero days rest.
TOKYO — Japan announced Friday, April 9 that it
will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow
tougher measures to curb the rapid spread of a more
contagious variant ahead of the Summer Olympics.
Japan’s national vaccination drive has lagged and
most people in the capital still have not been inoculated
as infections have surged.
The raised status announced by Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga will allow Tokyo’s governor to mandate
shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants. The
measures are to begin Monday and continue through
May 11.
Many of Tokyo’s cases have been linked to nightlife
and dining, though they have recently spread to offi ces,
elderly care facilities and schools, experts say.
Just over 1 million people in Japan, or less than 1%
of the population, have received the fi rst of two vaccine
doses. The Olympics are set to start July 23.
Predicting the NFL Draft: Part 2
much better. He has great
awareness, and is really good
at staying with elite receivers.
In about fi ve weeks,
the National Football
League’s attention
will be focused on
Cleveland, where
futures of young
prospects and orga-
nizations will forever
be changed in the 2021 NFL
Draft.
Part one of my mock draft
was published in the Thurs-
day, April 8 issue.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
(13-3): Jalen Mayfi eld,
offensive tackle,
Michigan
After failing to win a second
consecutive Super Bowl, the
Chiefs are looking to revamp
their offensive line, so drafting
Mayfi eld makes sense.
third quarter really broke
the game open.”
The Jazz went on a 25-4
run over a six-minute stretch
to take a 93-72 lead with
30 seconds left in the third
quarter. Mitchell, Gobert,
and Ingles combined to make
10 free throws during that
stretch. Ingles and Mitchell
also combined to score or as-
sist on seven baskets during
the decisive run.
“It’s almost like we got
better throughout the game,”
Gobert said. “Communication
got better. Our aggressiveness
got better.”
Portland trailed by double
digits the entire fourth quar-
ter.
“We had a good defensive
fi rst half, obviously the third
quarter was poor offense and
poor defense, so it kind of
went hand in hand to a bad
quarter,” Trail Blazers coach
Terry Stotts said.
Both teams struggled with
generating consistent offense
in the fi rst half. Utah shot
41% from the fi eld and Port-
land shot 43%. Each team
fi nally settled into a rhythm
late in the second quarter.
The Jazz went up 46-42
when Mitchell scored back-
to-back baskets and assisted
on a pair of others over a
2½-minute stretch. Mitchell
scored or assisted on 10 of
Utah’s 20 fi rst-half baskets.
Portland answered with
a 12-0 run and took a 54-46
lead just before halftime.
McCollum and Lillard scored
back-to-back baskets to fi nish
off the run.
22. Tennessee Titans
(11-5): Jaycee Horn,
cornerback, South
COREY
Carolina
KIRK
Horn can have a great
impact for the Titans’ second-
ary. He’s versatile, but what
concerns me is whether he
He does lack in size, and also
may be a health liability, as he can keep up with some of the
missed some games in the past faster receivers.
due to a groin injury.
23. New York Jets (2-14)
19. Washington Football
(Acquired from Seattle in
Team (7-9): Jeremiah
the Jamal Adams trade):
16. Arizona Cardinals
Owusu-Koramoah,
Najee Harris, running
(8-8): Christian Darrisaw, linebacker, Notre Dame
back, Alabama
offensive line, Virginia
Although drafting an offen-
The Jets will complement
Tech
sive lineman makes sense, the their newly acquired quarter-
The Cardinals have signed talent of Owusu-Koramoah is back — I have them taking
Rodney Hudson to help protect too appealing to pass up with BYU’s Zach Wilson with the
star quarterback Kyler Mur-
this pick. Though he needs
second pick — with the top
ray, and I see them drafting
to get better at tackling and
running back in the draft.
Darrisaw to further bolster
shedding blockers, he will be a Though not overly physical
the offensive line. A three-
valuable addition.
and with only decent speed,
year starter for the Hokies,
Harris has great vision and
20. Chicago Bears (8-8): acceleration.
Darrisaw has proven ability,
although he needs to improve Caleb Farley, cornerback,
Virginia Tech
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
his run blocking.
(12-4): Kadrius Toney,
Farley has a sizable frame
17. Las Vegas Raiders
and great speed, and although wide receiver, Florida
(8-8): Azeez Ojulari,
he could improve on his in-
This pick is logical because
linebacker, Georgia
stincts, he will be an upgrade Toney can help address the
Ojulari proved with the
for the Bears’ depleted second- Steelers’ biggest problem in
Bulldogs that he is a remark- ary.
most of their games late in the
able pass rusher who can
season — inconsistent offense.
21. Indianapolis Colts
also drop back in coverage.
Toney is an explosive play-
(11-5): Teven Jenkins,
He needs to gain some more
maker with top-notch speed.
muscle as he’s listed at about offensive tackle,
Oklahoma State
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
240 pounds, and needs to be
(1-15) (Acquired from
For the second straight
more aware when he plays
LAR in Jalen Ramsey
year, the Colts have a new
in space, two things that can
trade): Gregory
easily be worked on at the pro man under center in Carson
Rousseau, edge rusher,
Wentz. They have one of the
level.
best lineman in the game with Miami
18. Miami Dolphins (10-
As a team that needs help
Quenton Nelson, and to get
6): Kwitty Paye, edge
him a battery mate to protect at almost every position, the
rusher, Michigan
Wentz, who has a pretty rough Jaguars will get the next best
After drafting Devonta
injury history, so Jenkins will talent on the board, keeping
Smith at wide receiver earlier, be a good choice. Though his
Rousseau in Florida. He has
the Dolphins address their
weaknesses are out of his con- excellent length, really knows
next biggest need, getting an
trol (reach) he shows a lot of
how to shed blocks, and has
edge rusher in Paye. He is an promise with the versatility to a knack for forcing fumbles.
incredibly explosive athlete.
play on either side of the line. This would be a low risk, high
By Mari Yamaguchi
Associated Press
28. New Orleans Saints
(12-4): Jayson Oweh,
edge rusher, Penn State
Oweh will need time to
adjust to the league, and he’ll
reward pick for new coach
benefi t from playing beside
Urban Meyer.
Cam Jordan. Oweh needs to
26. Cleveland Browns
improve his instincts and add
(11-6): Christian Barmore, some weight, but he can thrive
defensive line, Oklahoma in the culture that defi nes the
If you told me a year ago that Saints’ organization.
the Browns would be drafting
late in the first round in 2021 I 29. Green Bay Packers
would have been shocked. How- (13-3): Sami Cosmi,
ever, after a great season with a offensive tackle, Texas
Cosmi couldn’t be a better
playoff berth, the Browns need
fi t for the Packers. He’s a
someone to line up with star
edge rusher Myles Garrett, and highly skilled pass protector.
Barmore is a good choice.
30. Buffalo Bills (13-
27. Baltimore Ravens
3): Greg Newsome II,
(11-6): Joseph Ossai, edge cornerback, Northwestern
rusher, Texas
A team that expects to com-
Ossai shows immense prom- pete for a Super Bowl bid, the
ise, and when he hits, he hits
Bills will look to tie up loose
hard. He needs to play more
ends and getting Newsome
fluidly.
can make their secondary so
32. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers (13-3):
Terrace Marshall Jr., wide
receiver, LSU
The Buccaneers achieved
their main goal this offseason
in resigning every member
of the Super Bowl-winning
roster, so giving Tom Brady
another weapon is a bonus.
Marshall is a solid deep
threat, and he will learn a lot
from the Bucs’ receiving crew.