The Spurs defeated the Jazz at home with a score of 126-118, securing their second consecutive victory and bringing their record to 8 wins and 8 losses. During this period, Wenyamala was absent from the game, and Popovich also temporarily left his position as head coach due to illness. However, the Spurs' performance was impressive, showcasing excellent team basketball.
In this game, the Jazz actually performed well, with 5 players scoring at least 18 points and shooting 13 out of 45 from beyond the arc, grabbing 49 rebounds. Markanin scored 27 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks, but his three-point shooting was only 3 out of 10, which is a bit low. The 21-year-old rookie Keonter George scored 19 points and 5 assists, and he is also a promising young player who has become one of the core players of the Jazz. Sexton scored 18 points, Collins scored 18 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, and the substitute Sensabo scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. The Jazz suffered their fourth consecutive loss and are currently ranked last in the West with a record of 3 wins and 12 losses.
The Spurs are truly the epitome of team basketball, with 8 players scoring in double figures, even without Wenyamala, they still have competitiveness. Barnes scored 25 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 8 out of 13 from the field and 4 out of 5 from beyond the arc. Although he is not a superstar, he has always been a solid player who can provide help to the team. Collins scored 18 points and 5 rebounds, Castle scored 18 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and had 6 assists, Shangpani scored 14 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, had 6 assists, and 3 steals, and Paul shot 4 out of 9 for 13 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, and 2 steals. The substitutes Kelden scored 12 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had 4 assists, Bessie scored 11 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and had 6 blocks, and Jones scored 11 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and had 2 assists.
After this game, the 39-year-old Paul also surpassed James to create a historical record in the NBA's 78-year history that no one has ever achieved before. According to media statistics, Paul scored 13 points and 10 assists in this game, which is also the eighth time he has sent at least 10 assists in a single game in the 2024-25 season, surpassing James in the 22-23 season to become the player with the most assists in double figures in his 20th season in NBA history. James, in his 20th season, once had 7 games with double-digit assists in a single season, but now this record has been broken by Paul.
However, for Paul, the biggest regret of his career is that he has never won an MVP or championship. After joining the Spurs, it also shows that he has let go and will not join forces with strong teams just for the championship ring. Paul signed a 1-year, $11 million contract with the Spurs, and his main task is not to lead the team to win games, but to help Wenyamala grow as quickly as possible. However, judging from the current situation, Paul may even lead the team into the playoffs, just like he did a few years ago with the Thunder, turning an unknown team into a strong team in the league.