Game ID: 22500440
Utah Jazz @ San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 8:00 PM ET
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
SAS 40 20 27 27 114UTA 32 38 28 29 127
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 12/19 · back-to-backBACK Castle back 12/08 after 9, 25 min since (81% of 31)
BACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 17 min since (57% of 30)
NEW Barnes 22 to 29 min over the last 4
NEW Kornet 19 to 27 min over the last 3
SAS availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restBACK Castle back 12/08 after 9, 25 min since (80% of 31)
BACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 19 min since (64% of 30)
NEW Kornet 19 to 25 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restBACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 20 min since (66% of 30)
NEW Kornet 19 to 25 min over the last 4
SAS availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Sochan missed 2 since 12/21, returns tonight: 1 min (9% of 13)
BACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 21 min since (68% of 30)
SAS availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restBACK Wembanyama back 12/18 after 12, 22 min since (72% of 30)
BACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 1 min since (9% of 13)
SAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restBACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 13)
SAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restBACK Sochan back 12/25 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 13)
SAS availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Sochan missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
SAS availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Vassell missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Sochan missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
UTA availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 21 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 12 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 26 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 12/15 after 2, 15 min since (77% of 20)
NEW Filipowski 23 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Hendricks 15 to 22 min over the last 3
UTA availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Markkanen missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 36 min (106% of 34)
OUT Kessler missed 22 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 13 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 2 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 27 since 10/22, out tonight
UTA availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 23 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 14 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 3 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 28 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/22 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
NEW Love 17 to 23 min over the last 3
UTA availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Kessler missed 24 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 15 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 4 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 29 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/22 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
NEW Love 17 to 26 min over the last 3
UTA availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Kessler missed 25 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 16 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 5 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 30 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/22 after 2, 37 min since (109% of 34)
NEW Love 17 to 23 min over the last 4
UTA availability going into 12/30 · 2 days' restOUT Kessler missed 26 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 17 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 6 since 12/18, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 31 since 10/22, out tonight
BACK Markkanen back 12/22 after 2, 36 min since (106% of 34)
NEW Love 17 to 26 min over the last 3
UTA availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 27 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bailey missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 18 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Anderson missed 7 since 12/18, returns tonight: 32 min (158% of 20)
OUT Love missed 2 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Tshiebwe missed 32 since 10/22, returns tonight: 15 min (89% of 17)
BACK Markkanen back 12/22 after 2, 37 min since (107% of 34)
NEW Nurkić 26 to 32 min over the last 4
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 29 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 28 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bailey missed 3 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Harkless missed 19 since 11/21, out tonight
OUT Love missed 3 since 12/27, returns tonight: 24 min (146% of 17)
BACK Anderson back 1/01 after 7, 32 min since (158% of 20)
BACK Tshiebwe back 1/01 after 32, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 30 min over the last 5
UTA availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Kessler missed 29 since 11/02, out tonight
OUT Bailey missed 4 since 12/27, out tonight
OUT Nurkić missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 31 min (117% of 26)
OUT Harkless missed 20 since 11/21, out tonight
BACK Anderson back 1/01 after 7, 32 min since (158% of 20)
BACK Love back 1/03 after 3, 24 min since (146% of 17)
BACK Tshiebwe back 1/01 after 32, 15 min since (89% of 17)
NEW Sensabaugh 24 to 33 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Castle at 19 and Wembanyama at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 134, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 32 free throws a game; George at 27 and Nurkić at 13 a game. Without Kessler (25 straight), Harkless (16 straight), Anderson (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the defense, San Antonio allowing 103 a night to Utah's 134 and the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-2. Call it San Antonio 128, Utah 114, San Antonio by 14.
12/19 @ ATL 126-98 — SAS notes
SAS won 126-98. SAS shot 54% (51 of 94) to ATL's 40%, 13 of 36 from three. The glass went 56-43 for them. Wembanyama led with 26 (10 of 15, 2 of 4 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Vassell added 18, Castle 17. The hinge was Q1, 32-19: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 38. Wembanyama was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/21 @ WAS 124-113 — SAS notes
SAS won 124-113. SAS shot 41% (43 of 104) to WAS's 44%, 13 of 41 from three, and went to the line 32 times to WAS's 24 — 25 points from the stripe to their 18. The glass went 61-43 for them. Fox led with 27 (10 of 19, 5 of 7 from three); Kornet added 20, Castle 18. The hinge was Q2, 43-21: SAS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 20, and the lead reached 24. Kornet was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/23 vs OKC 130-110 — SAS notes
SAS won 130-110. SAS shot 57% (48 of 84) to OKC's 54%, 16 of 36 from three, and went to the line 24 times to OKC's 7 — 18 points from the stripe to their 6. Johnson led with 25 (10 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Castle added 24, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q4, 43-28: a lead of 5 became 20. SAS trailed 58-60 at the half and won the second half 72-50. Fox was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/25 @ OKC 117-102 — SAS notes
SAS won 117-102. SAS shot 54% (45 of 84) to OKC's 39%, 11 of 29 from three. SAS turned it over 12 times to OKC's 7. Fox led with 29 (12 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Castle added 19, Wembanyama 19. The hinge was Q3, 26-19: a lead of 9 became 16. Champagnie was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/27 vs UTA 114-127 — SAS notes
SAS lost 114-127. SAS took 16 more shots (99 to 83), fed by 15 offensive rebounds, but shot 43% to UTA's 54%, 10 of 44 from three. Wembanyama led with 32 (12 of 21, 0 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Johnson added 27, Castle 20. Q1 was theirs, 40-32, but the other 3 periods went 95-74 against them. They led by as many as 11. Castle's -30 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 126, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 17 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-8 a night and Cleveland minus-3 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 110 a night to Cleveland's 126. Call it San Antonio 123, Cleveland 116.
12/31 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 27 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 21 and Castle at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest. New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 123, shooting 47 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 36 and Towns at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Hart (2 straight), Shamet (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 44 percent from three to San Antonio's 31 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 113 a night to New York's 123. Call it San Antonio 120, New York 116, New York keeping it close.
1/02 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Mathurin at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Toppin (31 straight), Isa. Jackson (5 straight). One day's rest. San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 28 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 24 and Fox at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: San Antonio wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where San Antonio has been plus-4 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the defense, San Antonio allowing 117 a night to Indiana's 126. Call it San Antonio 120, Indiana 115.
1/03 vs POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 117, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 29 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 27 and Fox at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Vassell (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Sharpe at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Holiday (23 straight), Grant (8 straight), Henderson (35 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: San Antonio wins, and the game turns on the arc, Portland at 38 percent from three to San Antonio's 29 and the line, where San Antonio takes 29 free throws a game to Portland's 22. Call it San Antonio 120, Portland 114.
12/20 vs ORL 127-128 — UTA notes
UTA lost 127-128 in 1 overtime. UTA took 9 more shots (105 to 96), fed by 18 offensive rebounds, but shot 42% to ORL's 49%, 15 of 43 from three. George led with 27 (8 of 22, 2 of 8 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Mykhailiuk added 23, Collier 18. Q4 was theirs, 36-21, the deficit cut from 15 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 107-91 against them.
12/22 @ DEN 112-135 — UTA notes
UTA lost 112-135. UTA shot 43% (41 of 96) to DEN's 50%, 14 of 41 from three, and got to the line 19 times to DEN's 25. Markkanen led with 27 (10 of 20, 2 of 9 from three); George added 20, Nurkić 17. Q3 was theirs, 38-34, the deficit cut from 23 to 19, but the other 3 periods went 101-74 against them. Nurkić's -31 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 vs MEM 128-137 — UTA notes
UTA lost 128-137. UTA shot 44% (40 of 90) to MEM's 56%, 16 of 45 from three, and went to the line 36 times to MEM's 29 — 32 points from the stripe to their 20. Filipowski led with 25 (9 of 15, 2 of 3 from three, 5 of 8 at the line); George added 24, Hendricks 21. Q2 was theirs, 36-32, the deficit cut from 6 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 105-92 against them. Hendricks's -9 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs DET 131-129 — UTA notes
UTA won 131-129. UTA shot 49% (44 of 90) to DET's 52%, 18 of 38 from three. George led with 31 (12 of 22, 5 of 10 from three); Markkanen added 30, Sensabaugh 20. The hinge was Q3, 44-35: UTA came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 8, and the lead reached 15. UTA trailed 67-68 at the half and won the second half 64-61. Mykhailiuk was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/27 @ SAS 127-114 — UTA notes
UTA won 127-114. UTA shot 54% (45 of 83) to SAS's 43%, 17 of 37 from three. Markkanen led with 29 (11 of 16, 5 of 6 from three); George added 28, Clayton Jr. 17. The hinge was Q2, 38-20: UTA came in trailing by 8 and left it ahead by 10, and the lead reached 17. Clayton Jr. was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/30 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Markkanen at 29 and George at 26 a game. Without Kessler (26 straight), Harkless (17 straight), Anderson (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 32 and White at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Minott (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 109 a night to Utah's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-2. Call it Boston 122, Utah 117.
1/01 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 98, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 28 free throws a game; Leonard at 38 and Harden at 27 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Zubac (4 straight), Bogdanović (2 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 129, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; George at 28 and Markkanen at 27 a game. Without Kessler (27 straight), Bailey (2 straight), Harkless (18 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 98 a night to Utah's 129 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 14 times a game to the Clippers' 10. Call it the Clippers 123, Utah 113, the Clippers by 10.
1/03 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 26 free throws a game; Ste. Curry at 29 and Butler III at 18 a game. Without Kuminga (7 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; George at 30 and Markkanen at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Kessler (28 straight), Bailey (3 straight), Harkless (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Golden State 122, Utah 120, Utah keeping it close.
1/05 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Avdija at 26 and Sharpe at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Holiday (24 straight), Grant (9 straight), Henderson (36 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 123, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; George at 30 and Markkanen at 29 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Kessler (29 straight), Bailey (4 straight), Nurkić (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-6 a night and Utah minus-6 and the defense, Portland allowing 115 a night to Utah's 123. Call it Portland 121, Utah 117, Utah keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
SASCB C. Bryant
DH D. Harper
DV D. Vassell
HB H. Barnes
JC J. Champagnie
JS J. Sochan
KJ K. Johnson
LK L. Kornet
LW L. Waters III
SC S. Castle
VW V. Wembanyama
UTABS B. Sensabaugh
CW C. Williams
IC I. Collier
JN J. Nurkić
KF K. Filipowski
KG K. George
LM L. Markkanen
NU Nurkic
SM S. Mykhailiuk
TH T. Hendricks
WC W. Clayton Jr.
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, George power Jazz to 127-114 victory, ending Spurs win streak at 8 games
SAN ANTONIO -- — Lauri Markkanen had 29 points, Keyonte George added 28 points and the Utah Jazz held on to beat San Antonio 127-114 on Saturday night, snapping the Spurs' league-high eight-game winning streak.
San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama marked his return to the starting lineup with 32 points, seven rebounds, five blocks and three assists in 27 minutes and 42 seconds. It was Wembanyama’s first start since Nov. 14 against Golden State, when he suffered a strained left calf that led to a 12-game absence.
Utah has beaten two of the top three teams in the NBA on successive nights after knocking off Eastern Conference-leading Detroit 131-129 on Friday .
Walter Clayton Jr . scored 17 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 16 for the Jazz, who have won two straight after four consecutive losses.
Keldon Johnson added 27 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio and Stephon Castle had 20 points.
The Spurs were without De’Aaron Fox, who missed the game with tightness in his left adductor.
Utah took a lead midway through the second quarter and did not relinquish it. The Jazz lead grew to 17 points and it did not dip below 10 points in the third quarter before the Spurs rallied in the fourth.
Wembanyama sprinted down the lane and emphatically threw down a one-handed dunk as the Spurs were rallying from a double-digit deficit early in the fourth quarter. Wembanyama’s subsequent free throw cut Utah’s once-sizeable lead to 104-101 with 8:49 remaining in the game.
The game marked the first consecutive home games for the Spurs in six weeks. San Antonio spent 28 of the previous 34 days on the road, including the semifinals and finals of the NBA Cup in Las Vegas.
San Antonio lost to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup final , but the championship does not count toward the NBA standings or statistics.