{"id":931238,"date":"2026-10-13T08:02:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/931238\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:02:22","slug":"ace-baileys-defense-shines-in-utah-jazz-preseason-game-vs-spurs-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/931238\/","title":{"rendered":"Ace Bailey\u2019s defense shines in Utah Jazz preseason game vs Spurs \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Utah Jazz played their third preseason game Monday, beating the San Antonio Spurs 119-109.<\/p>\n

Here are three takeaways from the game.<\/p>\n

Sharing is caring \u2014 but stealing is nice, too<\/p>\n

While head coach Will Hardy wasn\u2019t happy with what he described as \u201csloppy fouling\u201d in the second quarter that led to 24 San Antonio free throws, Hardy said he saw \u201ca lot of bright spots,\u201d namely the Jazz\u2019s 26 assists.<\/p>\n

Brice Sensabaugh and Darryn Peterson<\/a> led the team with five each. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere were some individual moments for a lot of the guys that played where everybody sort of got to have their moment about them, but it\u2019s a team game,\u201d Hardy said postgame. \u201cI love that we get 26 assists in the game. I think we really have a good intent about us right now in terms of sharing the ball, but a lot of work still to do. That second quarter has got to be cleaned up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another aspect of the game that Hardy appreciated was the team\u2019s 18 total steals. Isaiah Collier led the way with five.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Collier) is an incredibly gifted athlete,\u201d Hardy said. \u201cHe has really good instincts. The ability to close space. I think his \u2014 gambling\u2019s the wrong term \u2014 but he\u2019s doing it in the appropriate way right now. He\u2019s picking his spots of when to go for those steals, shoot in the gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 1 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz forward\/center Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks the ball as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 2 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz\u2019s Jonas Aidoo and Harrison Ingram reach for the rebound as San Antonio Spurs\u2019 Jon Elmore watches during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 3 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard David Jones Garcia (25) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 4 of 18<\/p>\n

San Antonio Spurs forward\/guard Keldon Johnson (3) guards Utah Jazz forward\/center Lauri Markkanen (23) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 5 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz forward\/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (20) shoots over San Antonio Spurs center\/forward Luke Kornet (7) and Utah Jazz center\/forward Jaxson Hayes (11) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 6 of 18<\/p>\n

Fans attend a preseason NBA game between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 7 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Trey Alexander (15) moves around San Antonio Spurs\u2019 Taelon Peter during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 8 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz center\/forward Jaxson Hayes (11) passes the ball as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 9 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) moves around San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 10 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) moves around San Antonio Spurs guard Ja’kobi Gillespie (17) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 11 of 18<\/p>\n

San Antonio Spurs center\/forward Luke Kornet (7) and San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (0) guard Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 12 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (8) passes the ball as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 13 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard\/forward Svi Mykhailiuk (10) shoots as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 14 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz center\/forward Jaxson Hayes (right) hugs Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson (left) before they play the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 15 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz Head Coach Will Hardy talks to players as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 16 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard\/forward Svi Mykhailiuk (10) plays in an NBA preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 17 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson (22) moves around San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. The Jazz won 119-109. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \"\"<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: 18 of 18<\/p>\n

Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) dunks the ball as the Utah Jazz play San Antonio Spurs in an NBA preseason game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News \u2018Ace Defender\u2019 shines off the bench<\/p>\n

Ace Bailey could soon have a new nickname, \u201cAce Defender.\u201d<\/p>\n

The second-year forward had five defensive rebounds on Monday, only trailing Svi Mykhailiuk\u2019s six. He also earned a shoutout from Hardy for his three steals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that Ace did a great job with his hands, using his length on the ball,\u201d Hardy said.<\/p>\n

The head coach credited Bailey\u2019s offseason conditioning, which has put him \u201cat a way different level than he was last year.\u201d Bailey later revealed that his conditioning was the result of a lot of time spent on the track.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis conditioning is allowing him to make those multiple efforts on both sides of the ball,\u201d Hardy said. \u201cDefensively, his understanding of space and how to use his length. He\u2019s closing distances on closeouts right now really well, containing the ball at the point of attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s turning the guy with the ball multiple times, and then you see him use his length to get some of those deflections on ball where he really isn\u2019t reaching. He\u2019s keeping his feet moving and keeping his defensive posture while sticking his arm out. He\u2019s not lunging for the ball.\u201d <\/p>\n

This season, Bailey said he wants to use his athleticism to his advantage on defense and \u201cguard the best defenders, give them a hard time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offensively, Bailey only put up six points Monday, but he\u2019s not worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cOffense is going to come,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not worried about the offensive end. I mean, I can score. It\u2019s just mainly just focused on the defensive end, just being the two-way player we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jaxson Hayes provides offensive spark in Jusuf Nurki\u0107\u2019s absence<\/p>\n

With Jusuf Nurki\u0107 officially out for four weeks, Jaxson Hayes<\/a> earned his second consecutive start. <\/p>\n

Both the Spurs and the Jazz struggled to score to start the game. <\/p>\n

About a minute into the game, Hayes opened the night\u2019s scoring with a free throw, though he missed his first.<\/p>\n

Hayes proved he can step up to provide an offensive spark when needed. <\/p>\n

For most of the first half, Hayes led the Jazz in scoring with 11 points. He was subbed out at the half for the remainder of the game. He also finished with both an offensive and a defensive rebound.<\/p>\n

Up next, the Jazz head on the road to play the Phoenix Suns in their final preseason game Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Utah Jazz played their third preseason game Monday, beating the San Antonio Spurs 119-109. Here are three…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":931239,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[49,48,459,13137,82],"class_list":["post-931238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nba","tag-news-feed-national","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/931238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=931238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/931238\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/931239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=931238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=931238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=931238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}