Jazz rally late, send reeling Spurs to 16th straight loss

SALT LAKECITY (AP) — Lauri Markkanen scored 27 points and recent signee KrisDunn added 15 as the Utah Jazz rallied from a 14-point deficit andbeat the struggling San Antonio Spurs 118-102 on Saturdaynight.

Markkanensealed the game with 14 points in the fourth quarter, and WalkerKessler recorded four of his five blocks in the final minutes.

“We finallyhad our spacing right and got good looks after that,” Markkanensaid. “But it was defense that was the difference maker, justgetting out in transition and running to get into a goodrhythm.”

Kessler, whoadded 12 rebounds and nine points, was off the court when the Jazzmade their first game-changing run and wanted to establish himselfto help his team finish strong.

“That’s whatI do. I don’t like people scoring in my paint,” Kessler said.

Dunn, playinghis second game on a 10-day contract with the Jazz, was signed forhis defense. He ended up being a playmaker and late-game scorerwhen the rest of his teammates were struggling.

“I’m anenergy player. I was trying to direct the team on the offensive endand try and push the pace and get my guys easy looks,” Dunnsaid.

Jeremy Sochanscored 22 points, Keldon Johnson had 18 and Zach Collins added 15for the Spurs, who lost their 16th straight game.

“We’reobviously not a 48-minute team,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovichsaid. “Just not mature enough to understand you got to keep it up.It’s a game of consistency and execution, keeping yourcompetitiveness up.”

In 23minutes, Dunn went 7 for 13 from the field and had game-high eightassists and seven rebounds, all along with strong defensiveplay.

“The guysdon’t really know me. I’ve only been here for a couple days, soplaying hard and being vocal out there make it look like I knowwhat I’m doing,” Dunn said.

Dunn hadn’tscored 15 points since Jan. 20, 2020, against Milwaukee, when hewas playing with Chicago. But, he now has 26 points in two gameswith the Jazz, who have won three of their last four.

Utah is backat .500 (31-31) and among a logjam of teams in Western Conferenceplayoff contention.

After ahapless first half for the Jazz, the third quarter was pivotal asUtah outscored San Antonio 30-14. The 14 points was season low forthe Spurs and the lowest point total allowed by the Jazz in thequarter.

The Jazz useda 19-4 run in the third quarter to grab their first lead of thegame. Jordan Clarkson made a layup with 3:30 left in the period tocap the surge and make it 78-75 in favor of Utah.

SimoneFontecchio hit a 3-pointer just before the horn and the Jazz led85-79 entering the final period. That was bad news for the Spurs,who are 0-42 when trailing after three quarters.

The Spurs ledby 14 points in the first half, at 46-32, when Johnson hit a pairof acrobatic shots around the basket.

KINDWORDS FROM THE MASTER

Utah coachWill Hardy learned the coaching profession in the Spursorganization from 2010-2019.

“He’sridiculously intelligent and he’s a hard worker. He started out atthe bottom in the film room and it was pretty apparent very quicklythat he understood everything that we coaches wanted,” Popovichsaid.

So, thementor is not the least surprised at Hardy’s early success with thethe Jazz, who were widely predicted to be one of the league’s worstteams this year.

TIP-INS

Spurs: TheSpurs were missing a host of injured players, including DevinVassell (knee) and Tre Jones (foot).

Jazz: Utahaverages more than 14 3-pointers per game, but didn’t record theirfirst 3 until Dunn made one with 4:16 left until halftime.

UPNEXT

Spurs andJazz: The teams meet again in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.