SALT LAKE CITY — It was a showdown between two of the best defensive teams in the NBA when the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs met Thursday night. Despite an inspired effort from the Jazz, who are in the fight for the final playoff spot in the tight Western Conference, the Spurs won 96-78.
Kawhi Leonard poured in 29 points to lead San Antonio to victory.
With the win, San Antonio tightened its hold on the second seed in the Western Conference due in large part to its defensive prowess. Coming into the game, the Spurs were the number-one team in the league in defensive efficiency — only giving up 95.8 points per 100 possessions . However, during the month of February, the Spurs’ defensive tenacity slipped, putting them in fifth place in the league with a defensive rating of 100.5 points per 100 possessions.
The Jazz, healthy again after long stints of missing power forward Derrick Favors and center Rudy Gobert, who are key players on the defensive end, came into Thursday ranked ninth in the league during February for defensive efficiency, allowing 101.8 points 100 possessions.
Utah jumped out to an early lead, on top 23-18 at the end of the first quarter. San Antonio came out of the gates looking very much the part of a tired team, after coach Gregg Popovich chose not to rest any players in the second of a back-to-back.
The Spurs tightened up their execution to gain a 39-35 headed into halftime.
Favors showed up to play for the Jazz during the third quarter, scoring seemingly at will as he tried to keep Utah in the game. However, the Spurs made the requisite halftime adjustments to counter Utah’s tenacious first-half effort, and took a 56-49 lead with 4:55 left in the third quarter. San Antonio didn’t look back after that.
The Spurs finished with four scoring in double figures, while the Jazz saw minimal input from players other than Favors, Rodney Hood, and Gordon Hayward. In particular, Hayward struggled against the tough defense of Leonard, only scoring 11 on the night. Favors was Utah’s lone bright spot with 25 points during the contest.
The loss drops the Jazz to 28-29 on the season, while the Spurs improved to 49-9.
NOTES: The Jazz came into the evening winning seven of their previous 10 games as they continue to jostle with the Houston Rockets for the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race. … PG Shelvin Mack made his second start with the Jazz after being acquired via a trade between Utah and the Atlanta Hawks. … Spurs PG Tony Parker is averaging a career-low 26.9 minutes per game this season, but played 30 minutes in San Antonio’s Wednesday night win in Sacramento. … Spurs coach Gregg Popovich praised Jazz coach Quin Snyder before the game, calling him a “basketball philosopher of sorts.”