Balanced attack helps Spurs top Jazz
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) reacts after fouling San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Dejounte Murray had 23 points and seven rebounds, leading a balanced attack that helped the San Antonio Spurs beat the Utah Jazz 113-104 on Friday night.
DeMar DeRozan added 18 points and seven assists for the Spurs. LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds. Six players scored in double figures as San Antonio beat the Jazz for the second time this season.
Article continues after this advertisementRudy Gobert finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Jazz. Emmanuel Mudiay chipped in 18 points and Jordan Clarkson added 15 off the bench for Utah. The Jazz had a four-game winning streak end with the loss.
San Antonio used a 17-0 run late in the second half to turn a four-point game into a lopsided lead. Murray scored three baskets to fuel the run. His third one finished it off and gave the Spurs a 65-44 lead.
The Spurs came out firing and had quite a bit of early success. Aldridge and Lyles hit back-to-back baskets to ignite a 14-5 run that put San Antonio up 24-15. Murray and Forbes punctuated the spurt with two more back-to-back baskets.
Article continues after this advertisementSan Antonio missed eight straight shots to end the first quarter. Utah was unable to capitalize before the Spurs heated up again. Starting with back-to-back jumpers from Patty Mills and Rudy Gay, San Antonio made six straight shots to open the second quarter. Forbes capped off the string of baskets with a 3-pointer that gave the Spurs a 44-30 lead.
San Antonio shot 54% from the field in the second quarter alone, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. The Spurs matched a season-high with 38 points during the quarter.
Mudiay made three baskets over a two-minute stretch to open the fourth, helping the Jazz close to within 96-84. That’s as close as Utah could get in its comeback effort.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Patty Mills made a season-high seven free throws. He went 7 of 7 from the line and finished with 15 points. … San Antonio scored 18 points off 17 Jazz turnovers.
Jazz: Mike Conley (rest) did not play. … Utah scored its first five baskets in the paint and ended up outscoring the Spurs 42-28 in the lane. … The Jazz outscored San Antonio 18-9 on fastbreaks.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Visit Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Jazz: Host Houston on Saturday.
