The Utah Jazz continued their quest toward a top pick in the draft with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs 123-110.
The final score looks like a dominant win, but Utah was in this game, and even led through three quarters when the Spurs pulled away. We don’t need to pretend, like the broadcast does, that the Jazz were interested in anything other than losing this game. Lauri Markkanen didn’t play for the third game in a row because of illness. Had Markkanen played, this one would have been a lot more interesting. Don’t forget, the last time Utah came to San Antonio, they won.
That said, the Spurs played well. Victor Wembanyama had 33 points and 10 rebounds. Wemby avoided contact with Jusuf Nurkic for most of the night, and so he stuck to his three-point shot, and it went well. Wembanyama shot 7/12 from three (58.3%), which is bonkers. It goes without saying, but Wembanyama’s ability at 7’∞“ is insanity and will keep the Spurs as contenders for years to come.
For Utah, they have a clear star in Keyonte George. George had 30 pointson 7/20 shooting and 4/10 from three. It’s nota great night from the field for George (likely because of Wemby’s defense), but he was able to get to the line and take 14 free throws. That ability to feel contact and generate points from the line is elite. He is really figuring out how to score night after night, regardless of who is guarding him. He also has the mentality you need to be a dominant player in the league. The Spurs were locked in on him all night, and he would find ways to score regardless of whether it was on-ball running a pick and roll or off-ball with cuts, pin downs, or other plays to get daylight. And if he has space going towards the basket, it’s over. If you give him room, he’s fast enough to get to the rim. If you’re in front, you have to have otherworldly body control, or he’ll create a foul when you make a mistake. It’s fun to watch!
He only scored 8 points in this one, but Ace Bailey is finding ways to impact games night after night. There might not be a more misunderstood prospect than Ace Bailey coming into this season. He was pegged as a selfish chucker, and he’s anything but that. He is playing solid defense that gets better night after night. He is also playing off the ball and knocking down threes at an impressive level. Tonight, he was 2/3 from three, and each shot was within the offense. We also had some of Bailey running the offense tonight, and it turned out well! He’s still extremely raw, but he is making quick reads, usually the first option, and he is making them work. A lot of the time, he’s running a two-man game with Nurkic, and it’s ending well. Tonight, Bailey had 4 assists, not bad for a “selfish chucker”, right?
The Jazz are well on their way to contention next season, they just have to get through one more year of losing games. They have a great duo in Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen, a very nice prospect in Ace Bailey, and they will likely have a high-level starter in Walker Kessler next season when he returns from injury. If they get lucky come lottery night, they will be one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference next year. All Jazz fans need right now is patience.
