NBA: Spurs end 16-game losing skid at Jazz’s expense
FILE – Keldon Johnson #3 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball up court in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on February 23, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. Tim Heitman/Getty Images/AFP
Keldon Johnson scored 25 points, including several big buckets down the stretch, to help the San Antonio Spurs snap a 16-game losing streak with a 102-94 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
The outcome, which wrapped up San Antonio’s nine-game circus road trip, gave the Spurs their first victory since they beat Brooklyn on Jan. 17. It also ended an 18-game losing skid away from home.
Doug McDermott hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 for San Antonio. Jeremy Sochan added 13 points and Devonte’ Graham had 12 for the Spurs, who won just their 15th game on the season.
👏🔥 @CB_ONES23 pic.twitter.com/VZittIucHF
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 1, 2023
Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points with 10 rebounds, and Walker Kessler contributed a double-double of 10 points and 15 boards for Utah. Talen Horton-Tucker scored 16.
The Jazz, playing without injured regulars Jordan Clarkson (thumb) and Collin Sexton (hamstring), committed 20 turnovers and only shot 35.3% (30 of 85).
Utah had the momentum momentarily in the fourth quarter after McDermott, Blake Wesley and Graham hit consecutive 3s during an 11-0 run that gave the Spurs an 88-82 lead. Horton-Tucker responded with a pair of shots beyond the arc to tie it.
OKAY JEREMY!!! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/mpqFqtB4j7
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) March 1, 2023
The teams traded leads before San Antonio seized control down the stretch, beginning with a go-ahead bucket by Johnson with 2:46 remaining.
Collins followed with a pair of free throws, and then Johnson scored six points in the final 2:06 as the Jazz went cold.
Utah used a 13-2 run, dominating in the paint during the stretch, for a 68-58 third-quarter lead. But San Antonio closed the gap by finishing the quarter on a 9-2 run.
Markkanen scored 22 points in the first half, but the Spurs led 50-48 at the break.
The Jazz finished without guard Ochai Agbaji, who started for Clarkson but left with a lower leg contusion in the third quarter.
Utah now embarks on a six-game road trip as San Antonio finally heads home after a 1-8 road swing.
