Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen celebrates after a 3-point shot
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) celebrates after a 3-point shot during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. Ryan Sun, Deseret News
Joe Coles
By Joe Coles

After a shaky start, the Utah Jazz settled down and defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 118-102, at Vivint Arena on Saturday.

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 27 points as the Jazz used a 30-14 third quarter to hand the Spurs their 16th straight loss.

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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) dunks the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) celebrates after a 3-point shot during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) scans the court during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) dunks the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) attempts to pass behind his back during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich gestures during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) guards San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy talks to Utah Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton (2) cheers from the sideline during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) guards San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham (22) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) prepares for the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) lays the ball up during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) rises for a dunk attempt during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks to shoot the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) and Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) shake hands during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks for a rebound during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (11) drives into San Antonio Spurs forward Doug McDermott (17) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay (22) attempts a dunk during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay (22) shoots the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Ochai Agbaji (30) lays the ball up during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) passes the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah head coach Will Hardy reacts during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn (11) shoots the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Juan Toscano-Anderson (95) tries to run past San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte' Graham (4) during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) shoots the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gay (22) lays the ball up during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) rises for a dunk during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) lays the ball up during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) shoots the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) looks for a pass during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) fumbles the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk (41) fumbles the ball while driving to the basket during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) fumbles the ball during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) is fouled while driving to the basket during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker (0) fades away while shooting during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News
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Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) rises for a dunk during an NBA game at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News

Here are three keys that contributed to the Jazz’s win:

  • After a poor first half where the Jazz entered the locker room down 65-55 — shooting 42% from the field and 23.1% from 3 — Utah turned the game around in the third quarter. The Jazz outscored the Spurs 30-14 in the third period, shooting 50% from the field while holding San Antonio to 25% shooting and 0 of 9 from 3.
  • Kris Dunn is making the most of his 10-day contract with the Jazz. He had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Dunn also made several impactful defensive plays in the pivotal third quarter, including blocking Malaki Branham’s 3-pointer near the end of the quarter.
  • Walker Kessler had a few blocks late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for Utah. He finished with five rejections.
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