The San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz are both clinging to playoff spots in the loaded Western Conference. It was Utah who came away with a convincing win in their recent matchup.
Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz scored 125 points in the victory. It was a poor defensive showing for the Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich makes no excuses for the performance, per ESPN:
“There's no time for sulking or anything like that. Utah played better than we did. They executed better. They made fewer mistakes over a 48-minute stretch and they won the game,” Popovich said.
One of the storylines in the game was Rudy Gobert and LaMarcus Aldridge. The latter was selected to the All-Star game, whereas the Jazz big man who is averaging 15.2 points, and 2.2 blocks per game, was snubbed.
The difference in the game was the second quarter where the Jazz pulled away, outscoring the Spurs 39-24. Defense was the key for the Jazz in securing the win.
“That's our identity. When we are all out there working and communicating with each other about the game plan, it's hard for us not to dominate defensively.” said Gobert.
The Spurs went without Rudy Gay in the game, who was out with a sprained ankle. Pau Gasol took a majority of minutes in the fourth quarter despite no starting in the game.
With the win, the Jazz take a one-game lead over the Spurs in the West, but still sit in sixth place.
It is a tight race to make it to the postseason, with the ninth-place Sacramento Kings only 2.5 games behind the Jazz.
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