Game ID: 22300412
Utah Jazz @ San Antonio Spurs
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 32 28 33 25 118UTA 27 37 36 30 130
SAS vs UTA ScoutingSAS vs UTA Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
SAS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Cissoko missed 10 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK McDermott back 12/06 after 2, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 10 min since (71% of 14)
SAS availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 6 since 12/06, returns tonight: 10 min (83% of 13)
OUT Cissoko missed 11 since 11/22, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (12% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
NEW Branham 21 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Wesley missed 2 since 12/17, returns tonight: 3 min (19% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 12 since 11/22, returns tonight: 3 min (24% of 12)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/19 after 6, 10 min since (83% of 13)
NEW Branham 21 to 30 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 8 min (61% of 14)
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 2 min since (16% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/19 after 6, 10 min since (83% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 3 min since (24% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Barlow missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/15 after 4, 6 min since (38% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/15 after 6, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 9 min since (74% of 12)
NEW Branham 21 to 29 min over the last 5
SAS availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Barlow missed 3 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 8 min since (58% of 14)
BACK Graham back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (61% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 6 min since (55% of 12)
SAS availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backOUT Graham missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Barlow missed 4 since 12/21, returns tonight: 14 min (112% of 13)
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Cissoko back 12/21 after 12, 6 min since (55% of 12)
SAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Graham missed 3 since 12/26, returns tonight: 8 min (59% of 14)
OUT Cissoko missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 8 min (68% of 12)
BACK Wesley back 12/21 after 2, 6 min since (45% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 14 min since (112% of 13)
SAS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restBACK Graham back 12/23 after 2, 8 min since (60% of 14)
BACK Barlow back 12/29 after 4, 13 min since (106% of 13)
BACK Cissoko back 12/31 after 2, 8 min since (68% of 12)
UTA availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 3 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 4 since 12/11, returns tonight: 20 min (73% of 28)
OUT George missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 25 since 10/27, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/13 after 8, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Olynyk back 12/08 after 2, 24 min since (119% of 20)
BACK Juzang back 12/16 after 7, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Potter back 12/14 after 7, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 4 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT George missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 26 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/13 after 8, 27 min since (82% of 33)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 20 min since (73% of 28)
BACK Juzang back 12/16 after 7, 4 min since (24% of 19)
BACK Potter back 12/14 after 7, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 25 min over the last 5
NEW Agbaji 20 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/21 · back-to-backOUT Clarkson missed 5 since 12/13, out tonight
OUT George missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 27 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/13 after 8, 29 min since (88% of 33)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 21 min since (77% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Fontecchio 23 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 28 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Clarkson missed 6 since 12/13, returns tonight: 30 min (99% of 31)
OUT George missed 5 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 28 since 10/27, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 25 min since (89% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Olynyk 20 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Horton-Tucker 20 to 29 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT George missed 6 since 12/14, returns tonight: 24 min (90% of 27)
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 29 since 10/27, returns tonight: 2 min (11% of 18)
OUT Potter missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 5 since 12/16, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 11)
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 30 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 25 min since (90% of 28)
NEW Sexton 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 12/28 · 1 day's restOUT Horton-Tucker missed 3 since 12/21, returns tonight: 6 min (31% of 20)
OUT Juzang missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 29 min since (93% of 31)
BACK Collins back 12/18 after 4, 24 min since (85% of 28)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 24 min since (90% of 27)
BACK Sensabaugh back 12/26 after 29, 2 min since (11% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 11)
UTA availability going into 12/30 · 1 day's restOUT Juzang missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (88% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 23 min since (85% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
BACK Sensabaugh back 12/26 after 29, 2 min since (11% of 18)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Dunn 19 to 24 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 2 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Yurtseven missed 2 since 12/28, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 11)
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Horton-Tucker back 12/28 after 3, 6 min since (31% of 20)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Hendricks missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Horton-Tucker missed 2 since 12/30, out tonight
OUT Juzang missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Sensabaugh missed 3 since 12/28, out tonight
OUT Potter missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Clarkson back 12/23 after 6, 27 min since (87% of 31)
BACK George back 12/26 after 6, 26 min since (95% of 27)
BACK Yurtseven back 12/26 after 5, 3 min since (26% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Vassell at 19 and Johnson at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. 2 days' rest. Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 22 a game. Without George (6 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (4 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Utah wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Utah allowing 117 a night to San Antonio's 130 and the arc, Utah at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it Utah 120, San Antonio 117, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/17 vs NOP 110-146 — SAS notes
SAS lost 110-146. SAS shot 43% (40 of 94) to NOP's 56%, 15 of 42 from three. The glass went 39-51 against them. Wembanyama led with 17 (6 of 13, 2 of 6 from three); Champagnie added 15, Osman 14. Q2 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 13 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 118-79 against them. Johnson's -30 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 @ MIL 119-132 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-132. SAS shot 48% (46 of 96) to MIL's 47%, 9 of 30 from three. SAS turned it over 16 times to MIL's 6, and MIL turned those into 11 steals. Johnson led with 28 (9 of 13, 10 of 12 at the line); Collins added 22, Vassell 17. Q4 was theirs, 34-25, the deficit cut from 22 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 107-85 against them. Sochan's -13 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ CHI 95-114 — SAS notes
SAS lost 95-114. SAS shot 46% (37 of 81) to CHI's 54%, 10 of 30 from three. SAS turned it over 19 times to CHI's 11, and CHI turned those into 11 steals. Vassell led with 21 (7 of 15, 3 of 8 from three); Collins added 14, Branham 13. Q1 was theirs, 28-27, but the other 3 periods went 87-67 against them. Collins's -20 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ DAL 119-144 — SAS notes
SAS lost 119-144. SAS shot 45% (44 of 98) to DAL's 52%, 14 of 45 from three. The glass went 42-52 against them. Sochan led with 23 (9 of 16, 4 of 6 from three); Johnson added 16, Collins 14. Q4 was theirs, 33-27, the deficit cut from 31 to 25, but the other 3 periods went 117-86 against them. Vassell's -38 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs UTA 118-130 — SAS notes
SAS lost 118-130. SAS shot 45% (44 of 98) to UTA's 49%, 16 of 35 from three. SAS turned it over 9 times to UTA's 14. The glass went 43-53 against them. Johnson led with 26 (9 of 20, 3 of 7 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Vassell added 22, Sochan 19. Q1 was theirs, 32-27, but the other 3 periods went 103-86 against them. They led by as many as 15. Sochan's -15 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/28 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 116, shooting 47 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Simons at 28 and Grant at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (3 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 133, shooting 45 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 19 and Vassell at 16 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 116 a night to San Antonio's 133 and the arc, Portland at 42 percent from three to San Antonio's 35. Call it Portland 121, San Antonio 112.
12/29 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 30 and Grant at 20 a game. Without Sharpe (4 straight), Ayton (2 straight), Rupert (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 125, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Johnson at 18 and Wembanyama at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-2 a night and San Antonio minus-5 and the arc, Portland at 40 percent from three to San Antonio's 34. Call it Portland 119, San Antonio 112.
12/31 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Johnson at 18 and Vassell at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Porziņģis at 29 and Tatum at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and San Antonio minus-6 and the defense, Boston allowing 116 a night to San Antonio's 125. Call it Boston 124, San Antonio 115.
1/02 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 44 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Bane at 24 and Morant at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Jackson (7 straight), LaRavia (7 straight), Gilyard (2 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 22 and Johnson at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the defense, Memphis allowing 123 a night to San Antonio's 129. Call it Memphis 118, San Antonio 115, San Antonio keeping it close.
12/18 vs BKN 125-108 — UTA notes
UTA won 125-108. UTA shot 49% (45 of 91) to BKN's 43%, 14 of 34 from three. The glass went 51-36 for them. Sexton led with 27 (6 of 17, 3 of 7 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Horton-Tucker added 27, Markkanen 20. The hinge was Q3, 34-23: UTA came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 20. UTA trailed 54-59 at the half and won the second half 71-49. Sexton was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/20 @ CLE 116-124 — UTA notes
UTA lost 116-124. UTA shot 51% (40 of 78) to CLE's 47%, 13 of 30 from three, and went to the line 28 times to CLE's 16 — 23 points from the stripe to their 11. UTA turned it over 16 times to CLE's 11, and CLE turned those into 8 steals. Markkanen led with 26 (8 of 18, 3 of 9 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Sexton added 20, Horton-Tucker 19. Q3 was theirs, 37-30, turning a 6-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 94-79 against them. Agbaji's -17 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/21 @ DET 119-111 — UTA notes
UTA won 119-111. UTA shot 46% (43 of 94) to DET's 50%, 11 of 30 from three. UTA turned it over 12 times to DET's 20. Olynyk led with 27 (10 of 16, 3 of 6 from three); Sexton added 19, Agbaji 18. The hinge was Q4, 29-23: a lead of 2 became 8. Kessler was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/23 @ TOR 126-119 — UTA notes
UTA won 126-119. UTA shot 53% (48 of 91) to TOR's 48%, 17 of 38 from three. Markkanen led with 30 (12 of 21, 4 of 10 from three); Clarkson added 30, Sexton 16. The hinge was Q4, 41-21: UTA came in trailing by 13 and left it ahead by 7. UTA trailed 55-71 at the half and won the second half 71-48. Clarkson was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/26 @ SAS 130-118 — UTA notes
UTA won 130-118. UTA shot 49% (47 of 95) to SAS's 45%, 16 of 43 from three. UTA turned it over 14 times to SAS's 9, and SAS turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 53-43 for them. Markkanen led with 31 (12 of 17, 5 of 9 from three); Clarkson added 24, Sexton 20. The hinge was Q2, 37-28: UTA came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 20. Fontecchio was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/28 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ingram at 24 and Williamson at 20 a game. Without Nance Jr. (13 straight), Hawkins (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Markkanen at 27 and Sexton at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it New Orleans 119, Utah 114.
12/30 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 28 and Clarkson at 21 a game. Without Juzang (6 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Adebayo at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Butler III (4 straight), Richardson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 109 a night to Utah's 117. Call it Utah 116, Miami 115, Miami keeping it close.
1/01 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 21 a game. Without Hendricks (2 straight), Juzang (7 straight), Sensabaugh (2 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Dončić at 42 and Hardaway Jr. at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Irving (12 straight), Kleber (25 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-4 and the arc, Dallas at 40 percent from three to Utah's 35. Call it Utah 119, Dallas 118, Dallas keeping it close.
1/03 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 21 free throws a game; Markkanen at 23 and Clarkson at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Hendricks (3 straight), Horton-Tucker (2 straight), Juzang (8 straight). One day's rest. Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cunningham at 26 and Bogdanović at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Stewart (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the defense, Utah allowing 110 a night to Detroit's 127 and the line, where Detroit takes 29 free throws a game to Utah's 21. Call it Utah 122, Detroit 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASBW B. Wesley
CO C. Osman
DM D. McDermott
DV D. Vassell
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
MB M. Branham
SC S. Cissoko
SM S. Mamukelashvili
TJ T. Jones
VW V. Wembanyama
ZC Z. Collins
UTABS B. Sensabaugh
CS C. Sexton
JC J. Clarkson
JC J. Collins
KD K. Dunn
KG K. George
KO K. Olynyk
LM L. Markkanen
OA O. Agbaji
OY O. Yurtseven
SF S. Fontecchio
TH T. Hendricks
WK W. Kessler
SAS/UTA the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Markkanen has 31 points and 12 boards as Jazz roll to 130-118 win, handing Spurs 5th straight loss
SAN ANTONIO -- — Lauri Markkanen had 31 points and 12 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz overcame a slow start to beat the San Antonio Spurs 130-118 on Tuesday night.
Jordan Clarkson added 24 points and eight assists, Collin Sexton had 20 points and Walker Kessler scored 11 for Utah.
Sexton’s points included a bounce pass to himself for a 360-degree dunk off a turnover in the opening minute of the second half.
“I was wide open, so I was just like, ‘Oh well, I’ll try it,’” Sexton said. “Have some fun. I felt like just having fun. I felt like that was something that sparked the momentum, sparked a run. Just the energy plays that’s needed.”
The play impressed and concerned Utah coach Will Hardy.
“I don’t know what on Earth would make him try that,” Hardy said, “but I also think the fact he’s 6-foot-1 and pulled that off is wild to me.”
Keldon Johnson led San Antonio with 26 points, Devin Vassell had 22, Jeremy Sochan added 19 and Victor Wembanyama had 15.
The Spurs (4-25) have lost five straight since snapping a franchise-worst 18-game losing streak.
“We’re still searching for consistency,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We’re not consistent offensively or defensively. We go in spurts and really haven’t matured enough to understand that winning an NBA game is difficult and calls for consistency.”
The Jazz (13-18) have won three in a row and six of eight after starting the season 2-7.
Wembanyama returned after missing two of the past three games with a right ankle injury. He was scheduled to play Saturday in Dallas but stepped on a ball boy during warmups and was held out as a precaution.
Wembanyama was 6 for 15 from the field and had seven rebounds, five blocks and four assists in 25 minutes.
San Antonio brought Johnson, a longtime starter, off the bench for the second time this season and the change contributed to a 15-point lead in the first quarter.
“The thing that’s most impressive to me is that (the Spurs) are relentless with their pace,” Hardy said. “How hard they push the ball in transition after makes and misses. I think it caught our team off guard. No matter how much you talk about it, you can’t simulate that stuff in practice.”
Starting in place of Johnson, Julian Champagnie had eight points in the first two minutes. He opened with a 3-pointer off a feed from Wembanyama and soared for a dunk on Sochan’s assist.
Champagnie finished with 16 points.
“That’s his best quality. That’s what he does,” Popovich said.
San Antonio opened 6 for 7 on 3-pointers in building a 28-15 lead eight minutes into the game. The Spurs finished 16 for 35 on 3s.
That fast start dissipated as Utah went on a 23-9 run bridging the first and second quarters. Clarkson capped the spurt with a pair of free throws as the Jazz captured their first lead at 38-37 with eight minutes remaining in the first half.
Markkanen and Clarkson combined for 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the second quarter.
It was another successful return for Clarkson to his hometown. He entered the game averaging 16.7 points in 26 games against the Spurs.
“Been known as a scorer his whole career,” Hardy said. “I think the last year and a half he’s made a really diligent effort to try be a better playmaker and he’s done a great job. Jordan has that ability, not just as a player, but as a person — he brings energy to the room whenever he’s in it.”
The Spurs have the worst record in the Western Conference and are second-worst in the NBA to the Detroit Pistons (2-28), who have lost 27 straight games — a single-season record.