If Victor Wembanyama scores his first basket of the match, it is Jazz who get off to the best start. Carried by Lauri Markkanen, already at 11 points in the first quarter, Utah gradually took the lead, and even created a gap at the end of the period. Kris Dunn comes off the bench for 7 points in 6 minutes and the Spurs are already on the ropes (32-18).
Across at 8/22 on shots in the first quarter, the Spurs unfortunately remained on the same trend in the second, at 9/23. Apart from Malaki Branham who came away with 10 points in the period, and Wemby who came in to place three baskets near the circle, the Texan troops were in great trouble offensively. Meanwhile, Jazz is spinning and it's already +24 at the break (63-39).
An 11-0 to complete the affair
Victor Wembanyama reopens the ball with a huge left-handed dunk in the second half, and there is a slight improvement for his Spurs who win the period (35-30). Largely thanks to Devin Vassell, the only Texan player to survive. Behind its Markkanen – Clarkson – Sexton trio, the Jazz can see it coming before the last quarter (93-74).
Without making any noise, San Antonio hangs on and even comes back below 10 points after a good passage from the Vassell – Wembanyama duo, which leads to a 17-7. But the Jazz responded with authority, and an 11-0, which put the Spurs in their place and allowed a more relaxed end to the match for Will Hardy and his team. It's good, Utah has indeed ended its black streak of five losses in a row (128-109).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Jazz finds its way forward. Arriving at the All-Star cutoff on a bad slope, with four losses in a row, the Jazz had once again conceded a defeat at home for their return to action against the surprising Hornets. This night, before leaving for a three-match road trip, Will Hardy's squad finally returned to victory against Spurs. A real relief which also allows Utah to maintain the hope of grabbing the last “play-in” place in a very open Western conference.
– Spurs rapped up. Caught by the throat from the start, and without much collective reaction, the Spurs only reacted at the end of the match, managing to pass a 17-7 to return below 10 points difference in the last quarter. Devin Vassell (27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Victor Wembanyama (22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks) lacked scoring support. San Antonio finished with 20 turnovers, which led to 34 Jazz points: “We were too slow and too messy. We're probably tired but we have to make the extra effort and play smarter than usual.”concludes Wemby.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
