The San Antonio Spurs aim to get back to .500 when they host the struggling Utah Jazz on Saturday afternoon.
San Antonio will play the second game of their five-game homestand after a commanding 118-105 victory over Portland on Thursday. Eight Spurs players scored in double figures, snapping a two-game losing streak and improving their home record to 3-1.
Malaki Branham and Keldon Johnson each scored 17 points off the bench, leading the Spurs, who held a one-point lead at halftime before extending it to 12 points after three quarters, largely thanks to their bench. The Trail Blazers never got closer than five points in the fourth quarter.
Zach Collins, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie each added 14 points, while Victor Wembanyama scored 12. Harrison Barnes contributed 11 points, and Blake Wesley had 10. Johnson also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Jazz head to San Antonio after a 123-100 loss at Milwaukee on Thursday. This defeat came after a win in Chicago on Monday ended their six-game losing streak to start the season.
Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 18 points off the bench on Thursday. Collin Sexton added 14 points, Johnny Juzang scored 12, and John Collins chipped in with 11. The Jazz shot just 42.9 percent from the floor and were outscored 39-7 in fastbreak points.
Utah saw the return of forward Lauri Markkanen, who had missed three games with back spasms. Markkanen scored eight points on 3-of-10 shooting, including 2-for-6 from beyond the arc.
It will take time for the Jazz to get all their key players on the court and performing at their peak.
The Spurs defeated the Jazz 106-88 in Salt Lake City on Halloween in their first meeting of the season. Wembanyama had a standout performance with 25 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, five steals, and five blocks that night. Sexton led the Jazz with 16 points.
