The Utah Jazz ended their five-game losing streak with a resounding 128-109 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night in Salt Lake City. The win was a much-needed boost for the Jazz, who had not tasted victory since Feb. 6.
Lauri Markkanen led the charge for the Jazz with an impressive 26-point performance. He was well-supported by Jordan Clarkson, who contributed 22 points and 10 assists, and John Collins, who added 20 points and eight rebounds. Collin Sexton also made a significant impact with 16 points and 10 assists.
On the other side, Devin Vassell stood out for the San Antonio Spurs, delivering a strong performance with 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. However, his efforts were not enough to lift the struggling Spurs, who suffered their fourth consecutive loss and 11th defeat in their last 12 games.
Victor Wembanyama, who had previously achieved a historic 5×5 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, put up a commendable performance for the Spurs with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocked shots.
The Jazz capitalized on the Spurs’ turnovers, scoring 14 points off 20 turnovers. They also displayed sharpshooting from beyond the arc, sinking 17 3-pointers at a shooting percentage of 51.1%. The Jazz dominated from the early stages, limiting the Spurs to just 18 points in the first quarter.
Lauri Markkanen’s impressive display in the first quarter set the tone for the Jazz, as they finished the quarter with a 15-5 run, establishing a commanding 32-18 lead. San Antonio struggled to narrow the gap in the second quarter, entering halftime with a significant deficit of 63-39.
Although the Spurs showed some resilience in the third quarter, outscoring the Jazz 35-30, they still faced a daunting 19-point deficit heading into the final period at 93-74. A spirited effort from Vassell and Wembanyama at the start of the fourth quarter briefly cut the deficit to nine points, but the Jazz quickly reasserted their dominance.
Utah surged ahead with a 21-point lead at 116-95, effectively sealing the victory with a decisive 11-0 run. Collins, Markkanen, and Clarkson played pivotal roles in securing the win, with standout performances that included impressive three-pointers and alley-oop scores.
The victory marked a turning point for the Utah Jazz, providing a much-needed boost after their recent struggles. The team will look to build on this momentum as they continue their campaign in the highly competitive NBA.
