Behind its dogged dedication on both ends in the first and third periods, San Antonio ran its undefeated streak to five with a 119-97 win over Utah. After conducting a well-played first 12 minutes with balanced contributions, San Antonio held on to that advantage while fending off an extended Jazz run over much of the second quarter. The Spurs then left no doubt after that, as their starters ran the Jazz off the floor in a 35-20 third period.
Dylan Harper (17 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the way for San Antonio (5-2) with all seven players (and all starters) getting into double figures. Western Conference Player of the Week Victor Wembanyama (12 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks) seemed content to ride shotgun, as Devin Vassell (11 points) carried the offense over many of the team’s second quarter minutes, while newly 22-year-old Stephon Castle (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) and De’Aaron Fox (12 points and 3 assists in foul-limited minutes) helped their fellow guards outshine their less experienced Jazz counterparts. Keldon Johnson (15 points and 7 rebounds) was forceful and effective off the bench.
Lauri Markkanen (22 points and 8 rebounds) carried the offense in comparison to Utah’s (1-6) callow execution throughout the evening. Jaxson Hayes (9 points and 5 rebounds) and Mo Bamba (8 points and 8 rebounds) provided moments of punch before the Jazz succumbed to the superior Spurs.
All five starters shared well in scoring the team’s first 14 points, and the Spurs collectively went up ten early on a sluggish Jazz squad. Utah scores came sparingly throughout the opening frame and their two recent rookie selections combined to go 0-for-8. The Spurs’ team defense proved adept both at guiding dribble-drives into the corners away from the rim and crowding the airspace around shooters. San Antonio got in its own way by missing a handful of free throws. All of the impressive two-way execution also was dragged out over a series of referee stoppages throughout the first and yet, the Spurs still left it up 11.
Markkanen found his shooting touch to start the second and helped bring Utah’s deficit into single digits. Despite their unrelenting effort to catch and surpass San Antonio, the hosts persevered through many tough minutes throughout the quarter. Vassell and Harper’s exploits kept the Spurs afloat, while well-traveled veterans Josh Okogie and Mo Bamba bolstered Markkenen’s production. After Wembanyama’s tip dunk midway through the second, the non-Wembanyamas fended off Utah 22-15 to make it a 59-49 game at the half.
San Antonio came out of the break intent to prevent any further Utah runs with its trio of Castle, Fox, and Harper doing the bulk of the damage to inflate its lead throughout the third as high as 22. The Spurs, in particular, negated any further support outside of Markkanen in a 35-20 quarter.
Peterson poorly closed out on a Vassell (pronounced by the crew chief as “VASS-ull”) corner three and was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul and the Spur guard netted three points from the line. Fox ‘s straightaway three and Wembanyama’s banker put the Spurs up six. Utah’s rookie again figured in a referee-involved situation as a shooting foul committed by Castle on Peterson was challenged and overruled. Harper converted a transition lay-up to make it 18-4, and the ensuing foul put Utah in the foul bonus halfway through the stanza. George’s second basket came 8+ minutes into the quarter. Will Hardy challenged a Utah foul on a Fox attempt and won it, and Markkanen got the Jazz into double digits 10 minutes in. San Antonio held Utah to its lowest quarterly output of the young season and led 27-16 after one.
Markkanen’s pair catch-and-shoot threes at the start of the second quickly brought the Jazz within five. Fox picked up his third foul 50 seconds in. Harper found Johnson crosscourt for an open three and followed that with a triple of his own. Vassell rescued a stalled-out sequence with a late clock jumper. A transition three from Bailey brought Utah within one and their increased aggression drew San Antonio into the foul bonus halfway through the second. Kornet got his first block on a George three, scored a reverse lay-up at the other end, and then set-up Castle for a three to prevent the Jazz from taking the lead. San Antonio built back up its cushion culminating with Johnson’s timely pair of lay-ups. Despite Utah’s opening push, the Spurs ended the half having lost only one point from their first quarter differential.
Harper and Fox dual-wielded their impressive scoring abilities deep in the paint to start the third, and San Antonio got the lead briefly back up to 16. Coach Johnson called a Pop-like timeout after George scored mere seconds after a Castle make. Markkanen’s fourth three stopped the Spurs’ momentum briefly. Julian Champagnie missed a straightaway three, secured the miss, and knocked down the next try to push the San Antonio lead to 17. A pair of tips from Markkanen was not nearly enough to dent San Antonio’s offensive onslaught. Wembanyama sandwiched a driving lay-up and a lob dunk around a block to make it 94-69 going into the fourth.
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San Antonio hosts Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night on ESPN at 8:30 PM CDT.