The San Antonio Spurs gained their first NBA Cup recreation with a gritty, spectacular efficiency from a depleted roster. They’ll rely on their depth as soon as towards as they tackle the Utah Jazz with out Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan. Fill-in starter Zach Collins can be on the damage report as questionable, which means the Spurs might have to open their rotation much more.
The Jazz are usually not as robust because the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, however they will’t be missed. The Spurs dropped their final recreation towards the Jazz, accounting for one of many crew’s three wins. The Jazz might be with out their beginning middle, Walker Kessler, and doubtlessly the new taking pictures guard, Jordan Clarkson, who’s listed as questionable.
San Antonio is a recreation away from a good document as they attempt to push their manner into the highest 10 of the Western Convention. These two groups will face off subsequent week as nicely in an NBA Cup recreation with increased stakes. Even with out their main scorers, the Spurs have confirmed they will compete. A brief-handed win might set the tone for the NBA Cup matchup subsequent week.
San Antonio Spurs (7-8) vs. Utah Jazz (3-11)
November twenty first, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports activities |Hear: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Accidents: Victor Wembanyama – Out (knee), Jeremy Sochan – Out (thumb), Devin Vassell – Out (knee), Zach Collins – Questionable (knee), Chris Paul – Possible (thumb), David Duke Jr. – Out (G League), Riley Minix – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League)
Jazz Accidents: Jordan Clarkson – Questionable (foot), Taylor Hendricks – Out (fibula), Walker Kessler – Out (hip), Micah Potter – Out (G League), Jason Preston – Out (G League), Oscar Tshiebwe – Out (G League), Collin Sexton – Accessible (finger)
What to observe for:
Charles Bassey’s alternative
Bassey had an amazing recreation within the Spurs’ win over the Thunder on Wednesday. The large man had 12 factors, 8 rebounds, and a couple of blocks off the bench. He noticed extra minutes, with Wembanyama lacking video games from a knee contusion. Now Collins might miss a while with a knee difficulty, which means Bassey ought to have much more alternatives to work his manner into the principle rotation. He’ll seemingly begin instead of Collins and needs to be efficient as a rim defender, hustle participant, and lob risk.
Can Stephon Fort lead?
The ball was in Fort’s fingers lots on Wednesday. The outcomes have been combined. Fort made some large performs down the stretch but additionally made loads of errors. He had 10 factors and eight assists, however on 3-13 taking pictures with 6 turnovers. With out Wembanyama and Vassell, the ball might be in his, Chris Paul’s, and Keldon Johnson’s fingers. In opposition to a porous Jazz protection that simply allowed fellow rookie Dalton Knecht to have a career-high, Fort can have loads of alternatives to attain.
Three-point taking pictures
San Antonio has grow to be three-point taking pictures crew over the previous couple of video games. They’re sixteenth in three-point proportion (35.7%) and tenth in threes made per recreation (14.1). In the meantime, the Jazz are within the backside half of the league in guarding the deep ball, permitting groups to shoot 37.2% from deep and make 13.1 a recreation. Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes and the remainder of the Spurs shooters ought to get attractiveness on Thursday.
