San Antonio has shown that with improved depth it can win when its stars are unavailable. Now, the Spurs have to prove they can repeat that effort.
They get the chance when San Antonio hosts the slumping Utah Jazz on Thursday in a Western Conference clash.
The teams already have played twice this season. San Antonio won by 18 points in Salt Lake City on Oct. 31 and the Jazz evened the series with a one-point victory on Nov. 9 in the Alamo City.
The Spurs play the second of a three-contest homestand after a 110-104 win over Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for San Antonio, which won despite not having injured star center Victor Wembanyama (bruised right knee) and guard Devin Vassell (sore left knee), both of whom missed their second consecutive game.
Both have been ruled out against the Jazz.
Keldon Johnson poured in 22 points off the bench and starter Chris Paul had a double-double (14 points, 11 assists) that included a crucial 3-pointer with 1:27 left to lead San Antonio on Tuesday. The Spurs built a 21-point advantage early in the fourth quarter and then outlasted the Thunder’s spirited rally in the final minutes.
“We did a good job of weathering their storm and made just enough plays to stay enough ahead to have a little bit of breathing room,” Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson said.
Harrison Barnes added 20 points for San Antonio while Julian Champagnie, Zach Collins and Charles Bassey scored 12 apiece. Stephon Castle tallied 10 in the victory.
“We’ve been playing a lot of close games already,” Paul said. “We’ve had some tough losses and some big leads, and we didn’t let go. But the only way you learn how to win these games is to actually do it.”
The Jazz conclude a four-game road trip with their meeting against the Spurs on Thursday after a 124-118 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with 25 points and eight rebounds while Collin Sexton added 19 points and John Collins, Keyonte George and Jordan Clarkson had 18 points each as the Jazz lost their third consecutive game.
Utah closed to within seven points, 116-109, on Markkanen’s layup with 1:42 to play but ran out of time.
Jazz coach Will Hardy continues to keep some of his young, untested players in the game while it’s still in the balance, trying to reduce their learning curve in key situations. That’s part of the team’s grand plan, according to Hardy.
“There’s moments where you’re sort of rolling the dice of like, ‘OK, I want these guys to feel this moment and to have some recognition, and we’re communicating in a game, and can we fix it on the fly?’ ” Hardy said. “The rolling-the-dice part is that we might not fix it on the fly (in this game). But that’s where we’re at, that’s what we’re doing.”
After their game Thursday, Utah and San Antonio will conclude their season series Tuesday in Salt Lake City in an NBA Cup West Group B game.
