SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs (11-22) worked their way to a tough win over the Utah Jazz on Monday night at the AT&T Center.
Tipoff was delayed for a half hour due to what the team called a "potential security threat." Details were limited, but the team thanked fans for their patience and said the situation had been resolved.
San Antonio got off to a fast start once the game got going. They got out to an early lead after Keldon Johnson came out swinging. He scored or assisted on 16 of the team's first 22 points.
Malaki Branham was first off the bench for Gregg Popovich, noteworthy on a night when the team was mostly healthy. He made the most of his opportunity. The rookie had scored 9+ points in his last four games, including a career-high 14. By halftime against the Jazz, he'd worked his way up to 12.
San Antonio only shot 3-9 from three as a team in the first half, but led 63-56 at the break. The Spurs scored 38 points in the paint to build that lead.
The run to the rim continued in the second half, but there was a bit more variety. Devin Vassell hit one of the first non-paint twos for either team, then got it to Tre Jones for three.
Vassell got it to Keldon for an impressive reverse layup, then Tre found him for another. Jones then found Vassell for an easy three, and drove all the way in for a layup soon after.
Jakob Poeltl scored inside, then obliterated a layup attempt. Jeremy Sochan must've done something to annoy Coach Pop and get an early hook to start the second half, but as soon as he got back in Keldon found him on the baseline for a powerful two-handed jam.
Branham knocked down a three to record a new career high.
San Antonio built their lead out to 20 midway through the third, but some sloppy play let Utah cut it to a dozen. Vassell pulled up off a screen and hit a jumper, then when he missed his next Sochan popped it back in.
PHOTOS: Spurs topple Jazz 126-122
Utah opened the fourth on an 11-6 run to cut it to single digits, and Pop called time. McDermott found Poeltl for a layup, then Poeltl found McDermott for another. Jak scored, then blocked a shot, then got to the line.
Branham got back in and went back and forth with Mike Conley, getting free throws and a driving floater to reach 20 points.
Zach Collins got an offensive board, then got it back from Vassell and posted up for a deuce. Vassell got a switch onto Markkanen, created space with a step back and drilled the jumper. He got the same switch on the next possession and cooked the big man with a series of crossovers that delighted the crowd as he kissed it off the window.
Sochan fouled Markkanen on a three, and the Jazz climbed to within 8 with two minutes to play. The rookie got blocked, then Jordan Clarkson drilled a three. Collins got called for a push in the back and fouled out. Utah cut it to four.
Vassell missed from midrange, and on the other end a three by Beasley touched every part of the rim before swirling out.
Tre Jones beat his man on the drive and tried a floater that hit the rim and bounced straight up, then straight down through the hoop.
Clarkson hit a quick three to answer and cut it to three. With time winding down the Spurs didn't run a play, they simply cleared it out for Jones. The third-year point guard crossed to his right, drive to the hoop and tossed in his second big bucket in the last minute.
San Antonio won 126-122. Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham each crossed the 20-point mark, and McDermott, Collins and Poeltl notched 10+. The Spurs are now 11-22 on the season.
PREVIOUS GAME
The Spurs are coming off a 133-113 road loss versus the Orlando Magic.
Keldon Johnson had 17 points and four rebounds to lead the team while Tre Jones added 16 points. Devin Vassell finished with 14 points and two assists while Doug McDermott recorded 13 points off the bench.
The Magic made eight three-pointers in the fourth quarter versus the Spurs to open up the game in their favor. The Spurs were down as much as 26 points in the game versus the Magic.
"We have a hard time putting together a 48-minute game," Gregg Popovich said. "We saw that when the defense collapsed at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth [quarter]. They [Magic] outscored us in a 10-minute period, 46-20. We've seen it before and we saw it tonight."
INJURY REPORT
All Spurs players will be available versus Utah. Spurs only list Dominick Barlow on assignment with Austin Spurs.
THE UNIFORMS
The Spurs will be in their Icon Edition jerseys today.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1. Utah is 1-8 on the road if trailing at halftime.
2. Utah is averaging 117.0 points per game in the month of December.
3. Utah is 7-6 against teams with a sub-.500 records this season.
4. The Spurs have allowed an average of 129.5 points in their last two games.
5. The Spurs are 4-12 versus teams with an above-.500 records this season.
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