Jazz Overcome Slow Start, Down Spurs
Feb 25, 2023, 9:20 PM | Updated: 9:27 pm
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) shoots during an NBA game (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz overcame a slow start and downed the San Antonio Spurs 118-102.
Lauri Markkanen scored 27 points to lead the Jazz while the Spurs got 20 points from rookie Jeremy Sochan.
With the win, the Jazz pulled back to .500 with a record of 31-31.
First Quarter
The Jazz fell behind 17-4 early as the Spurs knocked down three early three-pointers.
San Antonio also forced three turnovers in the game’s opening five minutes, while the Jazz opened shooting 2-11 from the floor.
Kris Dunn signing paying a dividend for #utahjazz#TakeNotehttps://t.co/kOalmZ584X
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 26, 2023
Kris Dunn gave the Jazz a spark off the bench scoring six first quarter points to lead the team.
After one the Jazz trailed the Spurs 35-24.
Second Quarter
The Jazz trimmed the Spurs lead to seven midway through the quarter as Dunn helped the team find a more consistent offensive rhythm.
However, San Antonio had an answer for every Jazz run thanks in large part to an 8-18 shooting three-point shooting performance in the first half.
☕️chai coming in hot 🔥#TakeNote #SASvsUTA https://t.co/k78Hjv7FGH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 26, 2023
Dunn scored 11 points to lead the Jazz while Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 13.
At the break, the Jazz trailed the Spurs 65-55.
Third Quarter
Talen Horton-Tucker helped spark a 9-0 run from the Jazz who trimmed the Spurs lead to just three with 7:50 left in the third.
The Jazz extended the run to 19-4, taking a 78-75 lead, their biggest of the night.
Great Finnish, @MarkkanenLauri. 💪 #TakeNote #SASvsUTA https://t.co/NCdKxuRLCE
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 26, 2023
Horton-Tucker scored eight points in the third, while the Spurs managed just 14 points as a team.
After three the Jazz led San Antonio 85-79.
Fourth Quarter
Dunn continued his strong play early in the fourth as the Jazz extended their lead to nine with just over eight minutes left to play.
The Spurs continued to fade down the stretch as the Jazz’s size and shooting proved too difficult to slow.
Lauri Markkanen finished with 27 points while Sochan led the Spurs with 20.
The Jazz downed the Spurs 118-102.
Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.
