Par Wemby – Fox has the last word against the Jazz

Again they squandered a lead of more than 15 points, but this time a win was still on the cards. Two days after theirs loss in Houstonwith a Victor Vembanyama next to its subject, the Spurs returned the color with a victory on the jazz floor (109-126).

“Wemby” perfectly made us forget this last poor performance by putting up 26 points (9/14 shooting including 4/7 from long range), 13 rebounds and 5 blocks, while De’Aaron Fox also showed off his prowess from behind the arc (31 points on 10/13 shooting including 6/9 on 3-pointers). The two All-Stars played a leading role in a tougher-than-expected fourth quarter.

After a very even first 12 minutes (31-31), the visitors were well on their way to a quiet evening. Because the Spurs started the second quarter with a 15-0 run capped by a pass from Wembanyama to Julian Champagne, in the corner, still hot from a 3-pointer (31-46).

De’Aaron Fox’s last show

To get back in the right direction, the Jazz could rely on several flights to the circle of Cody Williams, and especially the activity of three strong men of the evening: Ace Bailey, the author of his new career high (25 points), Keionte George still solid (23) and Jusuf Nurkic turned into a machine (read below).

Still trailing by 12 points at halftime (53-65), Will Hardy’s men rallied in the ensuing minutes, adding 39 points to the Texas defense in the third quarter. The result, 10 minutes from the end, after a dunk by Bailey (who a few seconds later missed the back-oop), everything had to be done again for the Spurs (99-99).

What’s next? The winning shot in the corner by “Wembey” even though it was highly contested, the finish under the circle by Stephon Kasla, the Jazz loose ball that Fox transformed into a 3-point basket in transition from the same corner and here it is 10-0 in favor of the Spurs (99-109).

Then, seeing Nurkic and Bailey working again, Fox sent him back to the front of the racket behind the line at 7m25. Once, then a second time in transition (105-115). After serving the Frenchman on a pick-and-roll, the Spurs leader scored the fourth winning basket in the period to definitely give his team some breathing room (109-120).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

When the intercity address is there, everything is fine. Buoyed by the tremendous 3-point prowess of their Wembanjam-Fox pairing (10/16 between them), the Texans finished a very good 18/43 from distance, or 42%. Crossing this 40% skill mark is anything but anecdotal this season for the Spurs, who remain very average students behind the arc. Every time they succeed, victory is at the end: 13 successes in as many matches!

Second triple-double for Jusuf Nurkic! And on this night, like Nikola Jokić (relatively speaking), the Bosnian was the center of the jazz game, finding teammates from a high position. Enough to boost his assist column and afford a triple-double with 17 points (7/19 shooting), 14 assists and 11 rebounds. During his last outing against the Wolves, the pivot, the author of 3 triple-doubles throughout his career, had already finished with 16 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists! In a franchise where we know this kind of performance is rare – none between 2008 and 2024 – Nurkic is the first player in the franchise to have two in a row since… Pete Maravich in 1975!

Victory almost impossible without Lauri Markanen. Still sick and out for the sixth straight game, the Finn, who scored 29 points in a win against the same opponent in late December, was not available to take on “Wembey” and his gang. His absence is almost systematically synonymous with the loss of the Jazz this season: just one win and 11 losses for a Jazz team that cannot do without offensive performance (28 points average, by far the best mark of his career).

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = point difference when the player is on the court; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.