Jazz Fall To Spurs After Slow First Half, 110-97
Dec 9, 2018, 7:33 PM | Updated: Dec 11, 2018, 4:41 pm
Royce ONeil #23 of the Utah Jazz scores in front of Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center on December 9, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Utah Jazz struggled on the road in a 110-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Just six days after blowing out the Spurs 139-105 at home, the Jazz struggled to repeat that effort. In that game, Utah knocked down a franchise record 20 3-pointers, in Sunday’s loss they made just 9-of-29 attempts.
“They’re the same team, they’re just a lot better and we weren’t as good as we needed to be,” said Jazz head coach Quin Snyder.
Final. Off to OKC.#UTAatSAS | #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/LsJuajD4bt
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 10, 2018
Jazz Start Slow
The Spurs went on a series of big runs to take a large halftime lead. They ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run which they extended to 17-0 in the second quarter as the Jazz went nearly six minutes without a basket.
The Jazz finally got something going in the second but surrendered another 12-0 run that was highlighted by a DeMar DeRozan buzzer-beating layup to end the first half. Utah managed just 36 points in the first half as the Jazz trailed 54-36 at the break.
Donovan Mitchell was held scoreless in the first half but immediately nailed a 3-pointer to start the second half. He scored 14 in the third to help the Jazz cut San Antonio’s led to just 10 to end the third.
Clawing back after a 36-point 3rd quarter.#UTAatSAS | #TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/sogBt6rBR1
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 10, 2018
Mitchell and the Jazz continued to whittle away at the Spurs’ lead and cut the deficit to five in the fourth. Unfortunately for Utah, San Antonio pulled away again with a 9-0 run.
Utah responded and pulled within six again but DeRozan and Rudy Gay kept the Spurs in front as San Antonio held on for the win.
By The Numbers
Mitchell finished with 27 points, all in the second half, to lead the game in scoring. Ricky Rubio also had a strong game, turning in 26 points.
RICKY RUBIO, FEELING IT pic.twitter.com/bbsls0rRn7
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 10, 2018
DeRozan led the Spurs with 26 points while Gay contributed a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds. LaMarcus Alridge also had 20 points in the win.
Next Up
The Jazz will have little time to dwell on the loss as they face the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday night. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
