3 Underrated Jazz Performers in 118-102 Win Over Spurs

The Utah Jazz were victorious over the San Antonio Spurs last night at Vivint Smart Arena, 118-102, following a very sluggish first-half performance. The much anticipated 'student vs. teacher' slogan was on display as Jazz head coach Will Hardy led his troops to victory over his former mentor Gregg Popovich.

Five Jazzmen scored in double-digits, led by All-Star Lauri Markkanen's 27 points. The win raised Utah's overall record to 31-31 and keeps the team in the playoff picture.

But the Jazz should be on notice as five teams in the Western Conference now have 31 losses, so the margin for error is razor-thin. Each game for every team has almost become a must-win because multiple losses could trigger Cancun-style reservations.

The Spurs landed six players in double-digit scoring, led by Jeremy Sochan's 22 points, Keldon Johnson's 18 points, and Zach Collins' 15 points. The Spurs are ranked No. 14 of the 15 teams in the Western Conference and have no chance at a postseason berth.

Let's break down three stand-out Jazz players from Saturday night's victory whose performances are flying under the radar.

Pleasant Surprise: Kris Dunn

In the wake of the trade NBA trade deadline, the Jazz are competing with a talent-depleted bench and a lack of point guard depth. Enter a former top-five lottery pick and so far, so good.

Dunn turned in a solid stat line of 15 points, eight assists, seven boards, a steal, and a block. His experience as a seasoned pro is paying dividends for the Jazz, but we will have to monitor his ability to remain in the rotation.

I'm skeptical when evaluating players who have been rostered by multiple teams. Maybe Dunn can alter my thought process, but for now, he is what the doctor ordered for the Jazz.

Staying Ready: Talen Horton-Tucker

'THT' has remained ready to compete despite the lack of consistency with game minutes. Lately, he's been in the starting rotation and delivered 12 points, six boards, four assists, and three blocks against the Spurs.

THT's size and athleticism afford him the ability to play multiple positions. The Jazz should feel fortunate they did not trade him prior to the deadline, and he should be a great contributor for the remainder of the season.

Solid: Walker Kessler

Kessler continues to man the paint and anchor the defense for the Jazz. He is also proving the Rudy Gobert trade may be examined as one of the worse in NBA history for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kessler scored nine points, grabbed 12 boards, five blocks, two assists, and a steal. Needless to say, this is a great stat line and more importantly, the Jazz should thank the Timberwolves every day for accepting the Gobert contract.

Disappointment: The Spurs

The Spurs afforded nine players game minutes. Only Collins registered a + game rating.

The Spurs have now lost 16 consecutive games and their record is 14-47, meaning they win 23% of contests. To say that the Spurs have mailed it in may be an under-statement but you can pretty much guarantee several travel agencies may have been contacted for vacation plans.

It's a mystery to me how such an established coach and organization can reach this level of disappointment but the Spurs have a ways to go to regain championship contention. Oh well, what goes up must eventually come down.

The Jazz will battle the Spurs again on Tuesday night at Vivint Smart Arena.

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