SALT LAKE CITY, April 8 (UPI) -- Gerald Wallace hit half his 16 shots from the field Thursday and scored 29 points in leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 98-87 win over Utah.
The Trail Blazers inched a half game in front of New Orleans for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoff race. Portland has three games remaining and New Orleans has four to go.
Portland held a four-point lead with 2:22 left in the third period and then closed the quarter on an 11-3 run. The Trail Blazers easily held on over the final 12 minutes while handing Utah its 20th home loss of the campaign.
The Jazz must defeat Denver next Wednesday to finish the season with a winning home record. Utah had a 32-9 mark on its home floor last season.
Nicolas Batum added 21 points for the Trail Blazers and Wesley Matthews had 18. Utah got 26 points from Devin Harris.
