Jazz extend longest losing streak in nine seasons

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – It has been nine years since the Jazz were on this long of a losing streak, and there is no sign of it stopping anytime soon.

Devin Vassell scored 31 points, Victor Wembanyama had 19 points and five blocks and the San Antonio Spurs ran past the Utah Jazz 118-111 on Wednesday night.

The Jazz have now lost seven straight, its longest losing skid since the 2014-15 season when they dropped nine in a row. Utah has lost 18 of its last 21 and its 3-18 record is the worst in the NBA since the trade deadline.

The Spurs, second in the league in assists behind Indiana, had a season-high 40 on 44 field goals. San Antonio also shot 51.8% from the field and were well above .500 from 3-point range until missing their final four attempts and finishing 16 of 33.

Jeremy Sochan, Julian Champagnie and Malaki Branham all scored 17 points for San Antonio.

Collin Sexton had 26 points and nine assists, while Lauri Markkanen scored 25 points for the Jazz.

“You know, another night where you win the second quarter, you win the third quarter, you win the fourth quarter,” said Jazz head coach Will Hardy. “But just not enough intensity, physicality and focus to start the game, and we dig ourselves a big hole. We had nine turnovers in the first quarter.”

The Jazz trailed 29-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Jazz led just once and trailed by double-digits most of the game.

Utah got as close as 115-111 with 23.2 seconds remaining before Tre Jones sealed the win for San Antonio with two free throws and Wembanyama swatted Utah’s next attempt.

“It was a bad choice,” Wembanyama said about Taylor Hendricks trying to dunk on him at the end of the game.

“I feel like we were a step slow on everything,” Markkanen said. “We weren’t physical enough on offense or defense. Once you make a mistake, they can punish you. Every mistake just adds up, so that’s how they get on a run.”

The Spurs are playing some of their best basketball of the season, beating Phoenix 104-102 on Monday and running their offense at its most efficient against the Jazz.

The Jazz (29-44) have the worst record in the league since the All-Star break, when they traded away three rotation regulars. Utah used 12 players in the first quarter, the most this season.

“I don’t ever doubt the competitiveness of the team in terms of their willingness to play hard,” Hardy said. “We’ve just got to play a little smarter.”

San Antonio and Wembanyama dominated early, leading by as many as 19 in the first half. And one sequence typified the rookie’s impact.

Wembanyama blocked Markkanen’s layup and then used his long stride to glide downcourt for an alley-oop dunk on the other end. That gave San Antonio a 38-20 lead.

Capped by Markkanen’s 3-pointer, the Jazz used a 17-3 run to get within four points, but the Spurs still led 59-48 at the half.

The Jazz will try to stop the losing skid Friday when they host the Houston Rockets at 7:30 p.m.

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