Highlight Reel Connection Helps Utah Jazz To Halftime Lead
Dec 26, 2023, 7:15 PM | Updated: 7:19 pm
(Credit: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – After trailing by 15 points early in the half, the Utah Jazz stormed back to take a 64-60 advantage into the break.
Utah is facing the San Antonio Spurs (4-24) at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday, December 26.
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comin' right back! pic.twitter.com/CHuPKPlPhd
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 27, 2023
Leading by three in the final minute of the half, Collin Sexton found a cutting Keyonte George gliding to the hoop with a perfectly placed pass. In one motion, George plucked the pass out of the air and gently laid it off the glass to give Utah a 62-57 lead.
Lauri Markkanen leads all scorers with 15 points. Sexton added 12 points and five assists. Jordan Clarkson chipped in 11 points. Jeremy Sochan leads San Antonio with 14 first half points.
Struggling Spurs Looking To Right Ship
While all the talk has been on Detroit Pistons NBA record-tying 26-game losing streak, the San Antonio Spurs have lost 21 of their past 22 games. The Spurs’ struggles include an 18-game losing skid of their own.
The road trip continues ⛽️
Next stop: 𝚂𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝚗𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚘⏰ 6:00PM MT
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📻 @kslsportszone #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/Q1id85LlIJ— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 26, 2023
Led by future Hall of Fame head coach Greg Popovich, the Spurs entered this game with a 107.2 offensive rating (30th) and a 119.2 defensive rating (24th), San Antonio’s negative-12 net rating is also the worst in the NBA.
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2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama averages a team-high 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds. The 7’4 Frenchman leads the NBA with three blocks per game.
Devin Vassell averages 17.9 points on more than seven three-point attempts per night. Keldon Johnson adds 17.2 points, 6.4 boards, and 3.9 assists in a team-high 32.7 minutes a night.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Follow The Utah Jazz With KSL Sports
The Jazz wraps up a five-game road swing against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, December 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on KJZZ, Jazz+, NBA League Pass, KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM), KSLSports.com, and the KSL Sports app.