Preview: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz – Game #18
Keldon Johnson is headed to Salt Lake City (Photo via X)
For the first time in nearly three weeks, the San Antonio Spurs will leave the state of Texas to play a basketball game. The Spurs have played eight of their last nine games at home, with the lone road game being in Dallas against the Mavericks. Tonight, San Antonio travels to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz.
The Spurs, for the first time this season, have a winning record at 9-8 after three consecutive victories. Considering that two of the three wins came without Victor Wembanyama and two of three wins came against Western Conference elites in the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors, the Silver and Black have to be excited about how things have been going lately.
The Jazz, on the other hand, don’t have a ton to be enthralled about. At 4-12, only the New Orleans Pelicans have a worse record in the West.
Harrison Barnes Named Western Conference Player of the Week
In news that came as a surprise to many, Harrison Barnes was named the Western Conference Player of the Week. The Spurs won all three games during the week and Barnes averaged 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 61.8% from the floor and 60% from beyond the three-point line.
Barnes’ big week improved his season averages to 11.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He’s shooting 52% from the field, 43.9% from three-point range and 78.8% at the free throw line.
San Antonio Spurs Injury Update
Victor Wembanyama was able to return from a bruised knee against the Warriors and he’s no longer listed on the injury report. The injury news is also positive for Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell.
Johnson was questionable heading into the Warriors game and ended up sitting out. For the game against the Jazz, Johnson has been upgraded to probable — so that means there’s a good chance he will play.
While Vassell won’t play against the Jazz, reports indicate he will be available on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs have obviously decided to sit Vassell out of the first leg of the back-to-back so he’ll be available versus the more challenging opponent.
San Antonio Spurs Starting Lineup
Don’t expect interim head coach Mitch Johnson to make any changes against the Jazz. The team will go back to it’s usual starting five of Victor Wembanyama at center, Harrison Barnes at power forward, Julian Champagnie at small forward, Stephon Castle at shooting guard and Chris Paul at point guard.
As a starter, Castle is averaging 14.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game, while shooting 42.7% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range and 79.4% from the free throw line.
Betting Guide: Spurs at Jazz
Even though the Spurs are on the road, San Antonio is favored by three points. The over/under is set at 227 points. The smart money is on the Spurs to win by four points or more. San Antonio is on a three-game winning streak and the Jazz don’t seem too interested in notching victories this season.