Spurs at Jazz GAMEDAY Preview: How to Watch, Injury Report, Betting Odds
"All the small things, true care, truth brings," words sung flawlessly by legendary punk pop band Blink-182's frontman Tom DeLonge hold significance with the down-and-out San Antonio Spurs.
After experiencing a 16th consecutive loss at the hands of the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, Spurs forward Keldon Johnson admitted his fault and the team's mistakes, including not doing the small things that typically lead to victory.
"We got to do little things for us to win. We went away from what had us in the game, and it fell apart," Johnson stated to the media following the second-half crumbling to the Jazz. Although the Kentucky alum looked out for the count in the postgame media availability, he also exhibited mature behavior, especially considering the morale-breaking long streak. Johnson seemed wise beyond his years, not allowing a bad stretch to define his career.
However, the win-loss column exposes the Spurs' apparent lack of experience. Aside from injuries, inexperience is pivotal in why the Spurs struggle. San Antonio's roster has nine players with less than four years of NBA experience. As the season's drum of the rebuilding theme beats like Travis Barker on tour, the Spurs return to Utah on Tuesday night for another shot at a team in a pseudo-reconstruction period.
Will the Spurs finish what they started over the Jazz before their third quarter letdown, where they scored a measly 14 points, or will San Antonio continue its dive to the league's basement?
Spurs vs. Jazz Injury Report
San Antonio Spurs
- Khem Birch (OUT - knee)
- Tre Jones (Questionable - foot)
- Langford Romeo (OUT - left adductor)
- Isaiah Roby (OUT - ankle)
- Devin Vassell (OUT - left knee)
Utah Jazz
- Jordan Clarkson (OUT - thumb)
- Collin Sexton (OUT - hamstring)
RECORDS: San Antonio Spurs (14-47), Utah Jazz (31-31)
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Vivint Arena, (Salt Lake City, UT)
TV: Bally Sports Southwest, League Pass
RADIO: Spurs Radio WOAI 1200 AM
ODDS: The Jazz are a nine-point favorite over the Spurs.
NEXT UP: The Spurs play the Indiana Pacers at the AT&T Center in San Antonio on Mar. 2, 2023.
FINAL WORD: Although the Spurs are a young team, they continue to showcase why Gregg Popovich deserves credit for his leadership during a time when most coaches would lose their minds. Johnson's behavior, as mentioned earlier, alludes to why he's worthy of keeping for the long term.
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