Chaud, Rodney Hood permet au Jazz de stopper les Spurs
Battu lors des 3 derniers matchs le Jazz d’Utah a retrouvé le chemin de la victoire devant son public en disposant des Spurs, pourtant sur une bonne série, sur le score de 100-89. Avec 15 succès et 18 défaites, Utah s’accroche aux playoffs alors que les Spurs lâchent un peu du lest sur les 2 premiers de la conférence avec un bilan de 22-11.
L’homme du match c’est sans conteste Rodney Hood puisqu’il marque 29 points à 12/24 et a surtout fait la différence en dernier quart alors que les Spurs s’accrochaient. Il a marqué 9 points du 13-2 décisif. Derrière aucun autre joueur du match ne marque plus de 14 points puisque Derrick Favors est à 14 alors que Ricky Rubio compile 11 points à 2/7, 11 rebonds et 7 passes. Utah shoote à 45.9% et en face c’est moins brillant pour les Spurs, privés de Pau Gasol, Danny Green et Manu Ginobili, avec seulement 43.6% au tir et personne à plus de 12 points malgré 6 joueurs à au moins 10 unités. LaMarcus Aldridge signe seulement 11 points à 4/11, pareil que Joffrey Lauvergne, pas dans un grand jour. Tony Parker score 11 points et délivre 6 passes et sa tentative de ramener les siens en dernier quart a échoué. Kawhi Leonard est limité à 10 points à 4/8.
Utah a mené une grande partie du match, puisque si les Spurs ont bien démarré, à la faveur d’un 17-3 entre la fin du premier et du second quart, le Jazz a été aux commandes, 30-17 puis finalement 50-38 à la pause avec 14 points de Hood. San Antonio a démarré la seconde mi-temps sur les chapeaux de roues avec un 11-1 pour revenir 2 points grâce à Aldridge mais Utah a très vite repris ses aises dans le sillage de Hood, Jerebko et Burks. San Antonio a fait l’accordéon et sur un énorme coup de chaud de Patty Mills, auteur de 3 tirs à 3-pts de suite en 3 possessions, a recollé à 2 points à l’entame du dernier quart. Utah a répondu par des 3-pts d’Ingles et Burks pour un 6-0 mais Tony PArker a réussi un 7-2 à lui tout seul qui a mis les siens à 1 point. Moment choisi par Hood pour plier l’affaire en marquant 9 points d’un 13-2 dont San Antonio ne s’est pas remis.
SALT LAKE CITY — Rodney Hood scored 29 points and the Utah Jazz fended off multiple comeback attempts by San Antonio to beat the Spurs 100-89 on Thursday night.
The Jazz led most of the way, but the Spurs fought back each time it appeared Utah was ready to put the game away.
Hood took over in the fourth quarter after San Antonio cut the lead to 82-81. Utah went on a 13-2 run with Hood scoring nine straight points, including a contested pull-up 3-pointer from the corner and a spinning, mid-range jumper to push the lead to 12.
Ricky Rubio had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Derrick Favors finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Bryn Forbes led the Spurs with 12 points.
The Jazz led 50-38 at halftime thanks to a 14-point half by Hood. Utah used a 17-3 run spanning the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, highlighted by back-to-back 3s from Joe Johnson and Rubio, to take a 30-17 lead.
The Spurs opened the third quarter with an 11-1 run as LaMarcus Aldridgewarmed up and cut the lead to two. San Antonio answered each time the Jazz tried to pull away before Hood finally sealed it.
The loss broke a three-game winning streak for the Spurs.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Pau Gasol did not play due to a right groin injury. … Manu Ginobili sat out for rest. … Danny Green was held out due to a left groin injury.
Jazz: Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell missed his second consecutive game with a bruised right big toe. … Raul Neto missed his sixth straight game due to a concussion.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Jazz returned from a six-game road trip against some of the most talented teams in the NBA, including the Celtics, Cavaliers, Rockets and Thunder. Utah went 1-5 during the trip. Coming home is nice, but the Jazz were still on the second night of a back-to-back and down two starters.
« I think there is a competitiveness to our group that is going to be there regardless, » Utah coach Quin Snyder said when asked about the team’s energy level. « Fatigue is something that everybody deals with. The challenge for us is not to lose any kind of emotional energy and to get despondent about schedule or lineups or injuries. Just to power through and that’s all you can do. »
FINDING LaMARCUS
Aldridge is having his best season since joining the Spurs before the 2015-16 season. He entered averaging team highs of 22.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The five-time All-Star was the only individual player coach Gregg Popovich mentioned when asked what he likes about his team to this point.
« I love that LaMarcus is having such a great year, » Popovich said. « He’s been just outstanding at both ends of the floor and really been the main factor in keeping our heads above the water.
« He’s playing with confidence and playing freely. Less input from Popovich and it’s working well for him. »