Jazz turn 99-78 cushion into 119-109 win over Spurs

Utah builds a commanding lead

Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 25 points for San Antonio, but the Utah Jazz used a 31-point third quarter to pull away for a 119-109 preseason victory over the Spurs on Monday at the Delta Center. Utah led 99-78 after three quarters and held on after San Antonio mounted a late push.

The Jazz improved to 2-1 in the preseason, while the Spurs fell to 0-3. Utah was the home team, and the attendance was 15,495.

Early back-and-forth

Utah took a 33-26 lead after the opening quarter. Jaxson Hayes scored on a free throw, a running layup, a tip shot and two dunks during the period, while Keyonte George added a running dunk and a pullup jumper. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. also made 3-pointers for Utah.

San Antonio answered with 35 points in the second quarter, but Utah scored 35 as well and carried a 68-61 advantage into halftime. Gillespie made two free throws in the quarter, and Jordan McLaughlin finished with six assists for the Spurs. Tarris Reed Jr. had 17 rebounds for San Antonio.

Third-quarter separation

The Jazz opened the second half with a decisive stretch, outscoring the Spurs 31-17. Darryn Peterson scored 14 points and added five assists for Utah, including a pair of baskets early in the quarter. Isaiah Collier made a 3-pointer, and Mo Bamba added several scores as Utah expanded its lead.

Bamba finished with nine rebounds. Utah's third-quarter run included a 23-foot running jumper by Peterson, a 3-pointer by Collier and a 25-foot 3-pointer by Josh Okogie. The Jazz entered the final period ahead 99-78.

Spurs make it closer

Utah scored early in the fourth quarter on baskets from Okogie, Svi Mykhailiuk and Brice Sensabaugh and led by as many as 26 points. The Spurs then cut into the margin with a late burst from Gillespie, who made three 3-pointers during the period, along with scores from RJ Davis and Jon Elmore.

San Antonio outscored Utah 31-20 in the fourth, but the Jazz maintained enough separation to finish the 119-109 win.

Sources

ESPN