Utah Jazz vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview and Predictions 2018-12-09
NBA PREDICTIONS 8TH DECEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE
The San Antonio Spurs are getting chances to avenge some of their most recent losses, and the Utah Jazz are next up on the revenge list. The Spurs, who host the Jazz on Sunday, were ripped 139-105 at Utah on Tuesday and followed that up with a loss at the Los Angeles Lakers the next night before bouncing back with a win at home over the Lakers on Friday.
San Antonio shot 50.5 percent from the floor and placed eight scorers in double figures in Friday's 133-120 triumph. "I think if we grasp the way that we played today and the emotion with which everyone played today, whether you're on the court or not, and now that everyone's seen that, I think that's the first win that we've had where we've played with that emotion and everyone had fun," point guard Patty Mills told reporters. "Fun's a key word. In saying that, I think we should be able to do that night in and night out, but it was a great example of how we should (play) tonight." The Jazz dominated their opponents during a two-game homestand, following up Tuesday's win over the Spurs with a 118-91 drubbing of the Houston Rockets on Thursday. "I just thought the way our team competed tonight, regardless of any situation, that's the primary thing," Utah coach Quin Snyder told reporters. "The game is always going to throw you adversity, it's wrapped different ways."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Utah), FS Southwest (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE JAZZ (13-13): Utah center Rudy Gobert was ejected in the opening minutes on Thursday after reacting poorly to a pair of very questionable foul calls. "I had a stupid reaction. I think I can blame myself more than anything for that," Gobert, who slapped items off the scorer's table on the way off the court, told reporters. "... It was just frustration, I think. A lot of frustration. I've got to be smarter. It didn't cost the team tonight - it could've cost the team, losing me in the first quarter. It's not the smartest thing to do." Derrick Favors stepped up in Gobert's absence and collected 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds.
ABOUT THE SPURS (12-14): All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan led the way with 36 points on 11-of-20 shooting to go with nine assists and eight rebounds on Friday and was at his most aggressive while attempting a season-high 18 free throws (making 14). DeRozan was held to 16 points in Tuesday's loss to the Jazz, but reserve center Jakob Poeltl stepped up with a career-high 20 points. Poeltl was at it again with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting and eight rebounds on Friday and is 34-of-43 from the floor over the last seven contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Jazz SG Donovan Mitchell was held to six points on 3-of-9 shooting on Thursday.
2. Spurs SF Davis Bertans is 13-of-23 from 3-point range over the last five games.
3. Utah took five of the last six in the series, with the lone loss coming in overtime at San Antonio last season.
PREDICTION: Jazz 116, Spurs 111