• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Jefferson, Spurs handle Utah

Apr 10, 2011 - 7:52 AM San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) - Richard Jefferson had 20 points in a full team effort that saw seven Spurs register in double-figure scoring as San Antonio won, 111-102, over the Utah Jazz.

Tony Parker had 13 points and seven assists for the Western Conference top seed Spurs, who have won four in a row. DeJuan Blair, Manu Ginobili, and Gary Neal each had 12 points in the win, while Tiago Splitter chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds.

"Great win for us," Parker said. "Everybody played well and I think we'll see the same thing in the next two games, everybody getting a lot of minutes and at the same time, all the starters getting some rest. So I think it's a great thing."

Al Jefferson posted 23 points and eight rebounds, for the Jazz, who are out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign and have dropped two straight. Derrick Favors added 17 points and five boards in the loss.

The Spurs finished out their home portion of the season, shooting nearly 60 percent from the field and left the court to a standing ovation from the home crowd. They will finish out the season at the Lakers and Phoenix before holding homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

The game was back-and-forth for most of the first until Blair's short jumper with time running out put the Spurs up 25-22. They held a 57-46 lead at the break, thanks to a 9-0 run finished by Neal's runner down the lane.

San Antonio kept a double-digit lead through the third, and Splitter's rebound and layin with one second left gave the Spurs an 89-76 lead heading into the fourth.

The hometeam cruised from there, playing most of their reserves during the final 12 minutes.

"They're tough and I feel that is what makes their team so special," Jazz forward Paul Millsap said of the Spurs. "They have guys that can come off the bench and score the basketball. They truly play basketball out there as they move the ball well and that's what makes them who they are."

Game Notes

San Antonio won all three games against the Jazz this season. Last season Utah was 4-0 against the Spurs...Both teams had 33 rebounds...The Jazz will finish out their season at New Orleans on Monday and hosts Denver on Wednesday.