Spurs Take a Two-Game Win Streak to Utah on Wednesday Night, Facing a Short-Handed Jazz Frontcourt
San Antonio, 2-2 after an 80-point first half against Sacramento, plays the second night of a back-to-back at the Delta Center against a 1-3 Utah team that just lost Jaren Jackson Jr. for six to eight weeks — with Lauri Markkanen questionable.
The San Antonio Spurs carry a two-game win streak into Salt Lake City on Wednesday night, tipping off against the Utah Jazz at 8 p.m. CT at the Delta Center on the second night of a home-road back-to-back. The Spurs routed the Sacramento Kings 130-103 on Tuesday behind Victor Wembanyama's 29 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in 27 minutes and Julian Champagnie's eight first-half 3-pointers on his way to 26 points. San Antonio set league season highs for points (80), assists (23) and 3-pointers (13) in a half, shot 54% from the field and 17 of 37 from three, and led 80-54 at halftime, which allowed the starters to rest early — no small thing with a road game the next night. Stephon Castle added 15 points, and Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson scored 14 apiece.
Utah is 1-3 and trying to avoid a third straight defeat after a 110-105 home loss to Memphis on Monday, when Keyonte George led the Jazz with 26 points and six assists and Ace Bailey added 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. The Jazz shot just 41% from the field and cut a 16-point deficit to one late before falling short.
The Jazz frontcourt the Spurs are flying in to face is not the one Utah opened the season with. MRIs on Tuesday showed Jaren Jackson Jr. has a torn MCL in his right knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, while Lauri Markkanen is day-to-day with a sprained right wrist and questionable for Wednesday. Jaxson Hayes is questionable with right shoulder soreness, and Jusuf Nurkic remains out with a right plantar plate tear. Mo Bamba, who had 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks against Memphis, is in line for heavy minutes against Wembanyama.
