Jazz Blow Huge Lead To Spurs, Popovich Sets Coaching Record
Mar 11, 2022, 9:11 PM | Updated: 9:20 pm
Jordan Clarkson #00 of the Utah Jazz looks on during a game (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz blew another double-digit second half lead and fell to the San Antonio Spurs 104-102.
The Jazz led 81-66 with 10 minutes left in the game but allowed San Antonio to close the game on a 38-21 run to win.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 24 points while Dejounte Murray scored 27 for San Antonio.
With the victory, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich earned his 1,336th victory surpassing Don Nelson for the most by a head coach in NBA history.
First Quarter
The Jazz jumped out to a hot start, leading by as much as nine early in the quarter fueled by Donovan Mitchell’s eight points.
But as has been an issue of late, the team’s second unit struggled to close the quarter and let the Spurs trim the lead to just three after 12 minutes.
MITCH3LL 🕷🏀💦@spidadmitchell with a pair of early triples.#TakeNote #UTAvsSAS https://t.co/ycob9AucEK
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 12, 2022
Mike Conley had six first quarter points which were more than he’d any in any of his three previous full games.
After one, the Jazz led the Spurs 33-30.
Second Quarter
After Conley’s solid first quarter, he struggled to continue the momentum into the second quarter.
The guard shot 0-5 in the period with zero assists. At the half he was 1-9 with six points.
Mitchell continued to carry the team offensively scoring 18 points on 7-14 shooting including some impressive finishes over the longer Spurs defense.
At the break, the Jazz led the Spurs 59-50.
Third Quarter
The Jazz couldn’t find buy a bucket early in the third quarter as they managed just two points over the first 7:30 of the second half.
However, the defense limited the Spurs to just eight points in the stretch to limit the damage.
🕷 Spida ➡️ Gobzilla 🦖#TakeNote #UTAvsSAS https://t.co/K8p6XSC2xU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 12, 2022
The Jazz closed the quarter on a 13-6 run to rebuild their lead to double digits heading into the fourth quarter.
After three, the Jazz led San Antonio 74-64.
Fourth Quarter
The Jazz started the fourth quarter well and built an 81-66 lead with 10 minutes left to play.
However, the Spurs answered with an 18-3 run to tie the game with just over four minutes left in the game.
“N🛑PE!” – @JordanClarksons, probably #TakeNote #UTAvsSAS https://t.co/uRIUO2Ll6x
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 12, 2022
The two teams traded baskets down the stretch as the Jazz struggled to keep the Spurs from scoring in the midrange.
Ultimately, the Jazz couldn’t find enough easy offense down the stretch and fell to the Spurs 104-102.
