SAN ANTONIO — The Utah Jazz ended the San Antonio Spurs’ eight-game win streak at Frost Bank Center on Saturday.
Fresh off a big win against the East-leading Detroit Pistons, Utah showed they can do it against the best in the West too.
Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George combined for 57 points. Jusuf Nurkic, Walt Clayton, and Brice Sensabaugh also scored in double figures.
back-to-back games, back-to-back dubs ✅#TakeNote pic.twitter.com/2Hq0jLUELm
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 28, 2025
Jazz Bounce Back From Slow Start
The first quarter came to a close with Utah trailing by eight.
They shot well and played fine enough defense, but had seven turnovers, which led to 13 Spurs points. San Antonio didn’t turn the ball over at all in the first quarter.
The script flipped in the second. Utah shot 64 percent from the floor and forced five Spurs turnovers while just having two of their own.
This resulted in a 38-20 second quarter, and the Jazz took a double-digit lead into the break.
The Jazz are shooting 68% from the floor and 60% from three. If it wasn’t for the turnovers, they might be leading by 20+ instead of 10.
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 28, 2025
Walt Clayton, Bench Shine Against West’s Best
A major reason for the turnaround was the bench, and specifically rookie point guard Walt Clayton Jr.
Clayton scored 11 of his 17 points in the quarter on 100 percent shooting. Cody Williams also checked in and added six points on 75 percent.
By the end of regulation, both Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski surpassed five points.
Keldon Johnson, an honorary starter who came off the sideline against the Jazz, played 21 minutes and scored 27 points. Johnson aside, the Jazz bench outscored San Antonio’s 40-17.
Cody Williams and Walt Clayton are balling off the bench right now.
Jazz winning the second quarter 26-11.
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) December 28, 2025
Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George Continue All-Star Campaigns
For the 11th time this season, both Markkanen and George scored 25 or more points in the same game. Utah is 8-3 in those games.
Against San Antonio, Markkanen had 29 points on 11/16 shooting and George scored 28 with five rebounds and six assists.
With wins over the No. 1 seed in the East and the No. 2 seed in the West in the same week, the impact of the Jazz duo is on full display on a league-wide scale.
As two of the top-20 scorers in the association, All-Star nods are absolutely on the table.
DID YA’LL SEE THIS @MarkkanenLauri DUNK?!? pic.twitter.com/74IzIo7kac
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 28, 2025
Jazz vs. Spurs Quick Hits
- It was a true battle of efficiency on Saturday. The Spurs pulled down more rebounds and turned the ball over less. However, Utah shot 11 percent better from the field and 23 percent better from deep.
- In his first start since returning from injury, Spurs star Victor Wembanyama had 32 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
- With two straight wins, and a 4-6 record over their last 10, the Jazz now sit at 12-19. That places them 11th in the West and 22nd in the NBA.