Spurs snap 16-game losing streak with 102-94 victory over Jazz

SALT LAKECITY (AP) — Keldon Johnson scored 25 points and the San AntonioSpurs snapped a 16-game losing streak, beating the Utah Jazz 102-94on Tuesday night.

DougMcDermott added 19 points for the Spurs, Jeremy Sochan had 13 andDevonte Graham 12. San Antonio improved to 15-47, winning for thefirst time this season after trailing to start the fourthquarter.

The Spursalso won on the road for the first time since mid-December.

“Ain’tnothing like it, man,” Johnson said. “We fought the same fight. Westayed together as a group and good things happened.”

LauriMarkkanen had 28 points and nine rebounds for Utah. Walker Kessleradded 10 points and 15 rebounds, Talen Horton-Tucker had 16 pointsand Kris Dunn added 11.

The Jazzfloundered on offense while playing shorthanded, making just fivebaskets over the entire fourth quarter.

“We were verystubborn tonight,” Jazz coach Will Hardy said. “We refused toadjust to what the game kept telling us over and over again.”

Blake Wesley,McDermott and Graham made 3-pointers to fuel an 11-0 run thaterased a double-digit deficit early in the fourth and gave theSpurs an 88-82 lead.

Horton-Tuckertied it on back-to-back 3-pointers. The Jazz took a 92-91 lead onDunn’s driving layup, but Johnson countered with a pair of basketsto put San Antonio up 98-93 with 2:06 remaining.

Johnsonaccounted for four of the Spurs’ nine fourth quarter baskets.

“I wanted towin,” Johnson said. “I feel like I had it going a little bit. Ithought I’d make the right play. My coach and teammates trusted me.They put the ball in my hands. They trusted me to make the rightdecision.”

Utah did notscore a basket over the final three minutes and shot a season-low35% from the field.

San Antonioheld an opponent under 100 points for just the fourth time thisseason.

“They played48 minutes,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “It obviously wasn’tperfect. It never is. But watching them give that effort for 48 wasvery satisfying.”

San Antonioforced the Jazz out of their usual offensive style and limited Utahto a single contested shot on many possessions down thestretch.

“We gotstagnant,” Markkanen said. “We ended up with more iso’s andpost-ups than we ever do.”

TIP-INS

Spurs:Charles Bassey had 10 rebounds. … The Spurs are 1-42 when trailingafter three quarters this season. … San Antonio outscored Utah56-36 in the paint.

Jazz: JordanClarkson did not play (right thumb sprain) and Collin Sexton missedhis third straight contest (left hamstring strain). … Johnny Juzangmade his NBA debut. He had three points in 15 minutes.

UPNEXT

Spurs: HostIndiana on Thursday night.

Jazz: AtOklahoma City on Friday night.