San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz – NBA preview
On Saturday night at the AT&T Center, the league’s best San Antonio Spurs will face Utah Jazz for the third time this season. The Spurs leads the season series 2-0 and will be looking forward to continue their dominance against
the struggling Jazz.
Despite of losing nine games in the last 10 meetings, Utah shocked the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on April 5th. Gordon Hayward who is averaging 4.8 points in the season, exploded off the bench for
the Jazz and shared a game-high 22 points with forward Paul Millsap.
Lakers’ All-Star guard Kobe Bryant was very pleased with Hayward’s performance and said after the game."I'm very, very fond of him. He's a very skilled, all-around player. I think he's going to have a very bright future in this
league. He reminds me of a more talented Jeff Hornacek. Jeff couldn't put the ball on the floor as well as [Hayward] can."
Utah Jazz is standing at the eleventh spot in the Western Conference even after winning 37 games. Their stats are better than the Indiana Pacers, who have already clinched the final playoff berth in the East. Utah are unpredictable
and have the ability to surprise any team on their night. Their effort against the Lakers earlier this week was an example. The Spurs are well aware of this and it won’t let them loosen up.
On the other hand, San Antonio Spurs are marching forward stoutly towards the playoff and hold the first spot in the West. They have won 60 games so far which are the most number of wins by any team in the league followed by 19
defeats only.
The Spurs bounced back strongly after dropping six straight game, which was their longest skid in 14 years. The team is left with only three games in the season and they will be having the advantage of their home court in all of
them. San Antonio are absolutely inexorable at their home and have won 35 games out of 40 meetings there.
The Spurs thrashed Sacramento Kings comprehensively in their last win. Manu Ginobili landed a game-high 25 while he was massively supported by the bench players George Hill and Gary Neal who combined for 33 points in a 124-92 victory.
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