The Hive Sports

by Alma Bean

Feature Image by Rick Bowmer of AP Photo

The Utah Jazz (26-31) are looking from extending their current five-game losing streak against the visiting San Antonio Spurs (11-46).

What to Look For

Both teams coming into this matchup are not playing the greatest basketball over their last ten games. San Antonio has won just one game while Utah has won two during that span. Even with the lack of wins doesn’t mean there hasn’t been great basketball being played from these teams. San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player to record a 5×5 (5+ stats in five different categories)in their loss Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers since Andrei Kirilenko in 2003. Even Utah’s rookies are making an appearance in the record books as well. Just before the All-Star break, Keyonte George tied the record for most three-point field goals made in a game by a rookie with nine and is now tied for second in Utah history in three-point field goals made in a game just trailing Bojan Bogdanovic who had 11 3PTM in 2022.

With the recent addition of Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh in the rotation, Utah will be able to not only keep San Antonio on their toes, but it will be great competition for them to get adjusted to the NBA speed of play. Hendricks tied his career-high in points (12) while setting his career-highs in field goals made (5), minutes (26) and rebounds (9) in his first career start while Sensabaugh set career-highs in points (7), minutes (13), field goals made (3) along with getting his first career steal. The future is looking bright for Utah, but a game like this should be a time to lean into the future of the franchise.

Key of the Game

Volume shooters. Though on face value, these teams are at the bottom of the western conference for their records, but both teams allow 120.6 PPG. What makes this stat pop out even more is that both teams are top-10 in the league in field goal attempts around 91 attempts per game. Both teams will need to rely on their high volume shooters to keep this game interesting. San Antonio will need to focus their offense through Devin Vassell, who is averaging 18.9/3.6/3.7 on shooting splits of 46.6/37.4/80.2 while attempting 15.0 field goals a game. Utah will need Lauri Markkanen to get out his recent shooting slump if they want to remain the superior team. over the last two games, Markkanen has been averaging 20.5/11.5/4.5 with shooting splits 29.8/30.0/92.9.

Injury Report

San Antonio – Charles Bassey (ACL) Out, Marcus Morris Sr. (not injury related) Out

Utah – Johnny Juzang (G League) Out, Otto Porter Jr. (away from team) Out, Micah Potter (G League) Out, Jason Preston (G League) Out

Where to Watch

Tip-off will be at 6:00 p.m. MST on KJZZ and Jazz+.