Jazz Turn Third-Quarter Surge Into 119-109 Win Over Spurs

Third-quarter swing

Utah used a 31-17 third quarter to create separation and held off San Antonio 119-109 in a preseason game Monday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. The Jazz took a 99-78 lead into the fourth quarter before the Spurs outscored them 31-20, trimming the margin without overcoming it.

Darryn Peterson led Utah with 14 points and five assists, while Mo Bamba added nine rebounds. Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 25 points for San Antonio, Jordan McLaughlin finished with six assists and Tarris Reed Jr. collected 17 rebounds.

How the game unfolded

The Jazz opened with a 33-26 advantage after the first quarter, then matched the Spurs 35-35 in the second to take a 68-61 halftime lead. Utah extended that edge decisively in the third, opening the period with two baskets by Darryn Peterson before Isaiah Collier's 23-foot 3-pointer pushed the lead to 13.

Mo Bamba scored on two alley-oop dunks during the third-quarter run, and Josh Okogie later added a 25-foot 3-pointer. Okogie's basket made it 99-78 entering the final period.

Fourth-quarter response

Utah stretched its lead to 26 points at 111-85 early in the fourth quarter before San Antonio rallied. Ja'Kobi Gillespie made three straight 3-pointers during the period, and RJ Davis added a 3-pointer and a running layup.

Utah answered with a stretch that included baskets by Jonas Aidoo, Tamar Bates and Harrison Ingram. The Jazz maintained the lead through the closing minutes, and Gillespie's final driving layup brought San Antonio to 109 points.

Records

The home victory moved Utah to 2-1 in the preseason. San Antonio fell to 0-3. Attendance at Delta Center was 15,495.

Sources

ESPN