The Utah Jazz narrowly defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 111-110, on Saturday, thanks to strong showings from Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton.
Sexton led the Jazz with 23 points, while Markkanen added 20, overcoming a standout night from Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, who scored 24 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, and blocked seven shots.
In a game that came down to the wire, Markkanen displayed resilience, staying on the floor despite a hard fall with under three minutes remaining. The Jazz forward was visibly limping but managed to contribute down the stretch, helping Utah improve its record to 2-7.
Jordan Clarkson contributed 16 points, and John Collins added 15, giving Utah the depth needed to stay ahead. Utah’s victory was highlighted by a significant paint presence, as they outscored San Antonio 54-34 in the paint and limited their turnovers to seven, after committing 10 in the first half.
San Antonio’s rookie Stephon Castle recorded a career-high 23 points, hitting three three-pointers in his third NBA start. Wembanyama impressed with his long-range shooting, going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc, adding versatility to the Spurs’ offense.
The Spurs were bolstered by the return of guard Devin Vassell, who notched 18 points in his first game since recovering from a foot fracture. Vassell made a statement in his season debut, shooting 8-for-11 and converting three three-pointers, addressing San Antonio’s need for a reliable scoring option alongside Wembanyama.
Utah’s bench provided critical support, as Johnny Juzang scored 10 points, while Kyle Filipowski recorded eight points and six assists.
The Jazz, who now rank 13th in the Western Conference, will look to build on this close victory, while the Spurs drop to 4-6 despite Wembanyama’s breakout night.
