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The lost season has become a losing one.

After long being associated with Jerry Sloan, 50-win seasons and playoff basketball, the Jazz will end the 2010-11 campaign far removed from all three.

But despite living through a year already filled with frustration, disappointment and unexpected setbacks, Utah still had a chance entering a game Thursday night against the Portland Trail Blazers to stay on the average side of NBA life.

That opportunity is gone now, too, after the Jazz fell 98-87 to the Blazers at EnergySolutions Arena. With the loss, Utah is guaranteed to record just its second losing season in 28 years.

"It's disappointing," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "Us not making the playoffs is disappointing, from the way this team started the beginning of the season. It's just another one of those things that we're disappointed in."

Utah's last loss-filled campaign was 2004-05, when the Jazz (37-42) bottomed out during the post-John Stockton and Karl Malone era, winning just 26 contests and relying upon the 2005 drafting of Deron Williams to turn the franchise around.

Six seasons later, the organization is rebuilding again, and it will rely on two lottery picks this summer in the hope for a return to the promised land.

But Utah's shaky season-long view looked exactly the same Thursday. Uneven play. A clear lack of on-the-court cohesion and not enough athletic talent. And too many mistakes that trumped too few positives.

The team's devoted fanbase left the arena half-empty by the 3-minute mark during the fourth quarter, and boos were at times mixed in with cold callouts of key Jazz players.

"We've got to get better," Corbin said. "We've got to work our way out of it. We can't feel sorry for ourselves. We are where we are. We have to pick ourselves up and work."

Corbin challenged players struggling with their shot or enduring an off game to start finding a way to help their team in other areas. He specifically cited forward C.J. Miles, who was just 3 of 11 from the field and 0 of 4 behind the 3-point line.

But Miles wasn't alone. Al Jefferson was at times invisible on the offensive end, hitting only 2 of his first 8 shots and producing the most during garbage time. Meanwhile, rookie Gordon Hayward only scored four points through three quarters after breaking out with 41 points during back-to-back contests heading into Thursday's game.

Miles — who is shooting just 12.5 percent (3 of 24) behind the 3-point line during his last five contests — acknowledged that some Jazz players are struggling to find motivation during the team's stretch run. The team's lineup continues to change, a full rebuilding movement has yet to begin, and while Utah's season is technically over, the majority of its recent opponents have been playoff bound.

"You can see guys are lost out there a little bit," Miles said. "Just trying to find ways to better themselves and better the team at the same time. It's just tough. Because guys get lost doing certain things — I don't even know how to explain it, to tell you the truth. It's rough out there."

Devin Harris tied a career-high with five made 3-pointers and poured in 26 points to lead Utah, returning to action after missing seven consecutive contests due to a strained right hamstring.

Gerald Wallace's 29 points topped the Blazers (46-33). Acquired just before the trade deadline, the tank-like forward outmuscled and outgunned Utah from opening tip to final buzzer, connecting on 4 of 6 3-pointers and collecting eight rebounds.

"He's relentless going after the ball on the offensive end and defensive end. … He's just an energy guy that's a real smart player for them," Corbin said.

Portland's lead swelled to 63-52 before Harris locked in from long range, drilling back-to-back 3s and helping to slim the Jazz's deficit to four with 2:15 remaining in the third period.

But an 11-0 Blazers run followed, and it was 79-67 Portland heading into the final quarter.

Another Jazz loss. A rare losing season. —

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