Jazz Late Rally Falls Short Against Spurs

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Jazz fell to the San Antonio Spurs 111-104 dropping their preseason home opener.

The game marked the home opener for the Jazz at Vivint Arena.

The Jazz were without Mike Conley (rest), Malik Beasley (ankle sprain), and Udoka Azubuike (ankle surgery) against the Spurs.

Jazz Starters
23 LAURI MARKKANEN
41 KELLY OLYNYK
8 JARRED VANDERBILT
00 JORDAN CLARKSON
2 COLLIN SEXTON

Spurs Starters
3 KELDON JOHNSON
10 JEREMY SOCHAN
25 JAKOB POELTL
24 DEVIN VASSELL
33 TRE JONES

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 12, 2022

First Quarter

The Jazz struggled to defend the rim in the first quarter allowing the Spurs to build a double-digit lead midway through the period.

San Antonio was led in scoring by Keldon Johnson who poured in 10 points on 4-6 shooting including 2-3 from downtown.

Young Bull from deep 🎯#TakeNote | @CollinSexton02 pic.twitter.com/UCPpyUEsVy

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 12, 2022

Collin Sexton led the Jazz with seven points on 2-5 shooting including 1-2 from downtown.

After one the Jazz trailed the Spurs 39-26.

Second Quarter

The Jazz stopped passing the ball on offense, instead settling for difficult threes or contested midrange shots in the halfcourt.

The Spurs shooting cooled off in the second quarter as they knocked down 10-20 field goal attempts and 3-7 from three.

Every player on the @spurs had a positive +/-. No @utahjazz players had a positive +/-.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 12, 2022

Jared Butler scored eight points in the quarter on 2-5 shooting and led all Jazz scorers with 10 points at the break.

At the half the Jazz trailed the Spurs 63-47.

Third Quarter

The Spurs once again dominated the third quarter outscoring the Jazz 30-26 and shooting 48 percent from the floor.

Devin Vassell scored eight points in the frame and had 24 points to lead all scorers through 36 minutes.

Lauri Markkanen posted a double-double, and this emphatic dunk in just three quarters for the @utahjazz. #TakeNote https://t.co/8lumbFoU4r

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 12, 2022

Lauri Markkanen scored 11 points in the third quarter and had an 18 point, 10 rebound double-double heading into the fourth quarter

After three, the Jazz trailed San Antonio 93-73.

Fourth Quarter

The Jazz battled back against the Spurs in the fourth quarter led by the steady point guard play of Jared Butler.

Along with Walker Kessler the Jazz youngsters battled back trimming the Spurs lead to just six with 3:18 left to play but the Spurs answered with back-to-back buckets to put the game out of reach.

The Jared Butler point guard experiment is starting to pay off.

He's looking a lot like the guy we saw at Baylor taking what the defense gives him and balancing his scoring and passing.

He's got 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. He's playing well.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 12, 2022

Butler finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while Kessler added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks in the loss.

The Jazz fell to the Spurs 111-104 in their preseason home opener.

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