Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points and Keyonte George added 28 to lead the Utah Jazz (12-19) to a 127-114 victory over the San Antonio Spurs (23-8) on Saturday at Frost Bank Center. The win snapped San Antonio’s league-high eight-game winning streak.
Victor Wembanyama returned to the Spurs’ starting lineup with 32 points, seven rebounds, five blocks, and three assists in 27 minutes, marking his first start since November 14 due to a left calf strain. Keldon Johnson contributed 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Stephon Castle added 20 for San Antonio.
Utah gained control midway through the second quarter and did not relinquish the lead, pushing it to 17 points in the third before the Spurs narrowed the gap late. Wembanyama’s one-handed dunk and subsequent free throw cut the Jazz’s lead to 104-101 with 8:49 remaining in the fourth.
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 17 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 16 as the Jazz extended their winning streak to two after four straight losses. Utah has now defeated two of the NBA’s top three teams on consecutive nights, following a 131-129 win over Detroit on Friday.
Markkanen shot 11-of-16 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, while George added 7-of-18 shooting and 11-of-13 from the free throw line. The Jazz outshot San Antonio 54% to 43% and outrebounded the Spurs 37-30, with nine assists and four blocks.
The Spurs were without De’Aaron Fox, sidelined with tightness in his left adductor. San Antonio played its first consecutive home games in six weeks, having spent 28 of the previous 34 days on the road, including the NBA Cup semifinals and finals in Las Vegas.
The Jazz will host Boston on Tuesday, while the Spurs welcome Cleveland on Monday.
