Spurs Surge Late to Put Away Jazz Behind Fox and Wembanyama
When the Utah Jazz stormed back to erase a double-digit deficit and tie things up early in the fourth quarter, the San Antonio Spurs didn’t flinch. They didn’t tighten up.
They didn’t force the issue. Instead, they responded with their sharpest stretch of basketball all night - and maybe one of their most composed finishes of the season.
Behind a dominant late-game push led by De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs pulled away in Salt Lake City, closing strong to secure a 126-109 win over the Jazz at the Delta Center.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a wire-to-wire cruise. The Spurs had to earn this one.
After building a comfortable lead in the first half with crisp ball movement and hot shooting from deep, San Antonio saw its cushion slowly evaporate. Utah clawed back behind the energy of rookie Ace Bailey and the all-around play of Jusuf Nurkić, who posted his second straight triple-double.
By the early minutes of the fourth, it was a brand-new ballgame.
That’s when San Antonio flipped the switch.
“We stopped getting stops - that’s how they got back into the game,” Fox said postgame. “Once our defense got going again, that’s where we broke the game open.”
Fox was the engine all night, pouring in 31 points and hitting timely shots when the Spurs needed them most. He was especially lethal from three, spacing the floor and punishing Utah’s late rotations. Wembanyama added 26 of his own, including a clutch three midway through the fourth that snapped a brief cold spell and sparked the Spurs’ closing run.
That shot from Wemby wasn’t just a momentum-changer - it was a statement. The kind of confident, in-rhythm look that signaled San Antonio wasn’t going to let this one slip away.
Fox followed with another triple. Then came a flurry of stops, transition buckets, and smart halfcourt execution. Suddenly, what had been a tense, back-and-forth battle turned into a runaway.
Keldon Johnson, who chipped in 21 points off the bench, praised Fox’s steady leadership.
“My hat goes out to him,” Johnson said. “Every day, he comes in, doesn’t have no ego, comes in to work, comes out there, gives us his best every night.”
That humility and consistency have quietly become a defining trait for this Spurs group - especially in tight moments. And Thursday night, it showed.
Defensively, San Antonio locked in during the final frame, holding Utah to just 17 points. Head coach Mitch Johnson pointed to that effort as the turning point.
“It’s a never-ending battle,” Johnson said. “A lot of defensive miscues and execution breakdowns earlier in the game - but 17 points in the fourth quarter got the job done.”
The Spurs finished with five players in double figures and looked in control on both ends in the closing minutes. That’s the kind of balance and poise they’ve been striving for all season.
Encouraging Signs All Around
Beyond the headline performances from Fox and Wembanyama, there were plenty of positives to take away. Rookie guard Stephon Castle had one of his most complete games as a pro, finishing with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals - all while committing just one turnover. For a young player still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the league, that kind of control is a major step forward.
Julian Champagnie stayed hot from deep, knocking down five triples on his way to 17 points. His shooting has been one of the few consistent bright spots during an otherwise streaky month for the Spurs from beyond the arc.
And while Luke Kornet missed the game due to injury, the team is optimistic he won’t be out for long. With a couple of off days ahead, there’s hope he - along with Devin Vassell - could be ready to return soon.
Looking Ahead
This win wasn’t just about the final score - it was about how the Spurs got there. They weathered a run, responded with discipline and execution, and leaned on their stars to close the door. For a young team still learning how to finish games, that’s the kind of fourth quarter you want to build on.
They’ll get a chance to do just that on Sunday, when they return to the floor against the Pelicans. With a little rest and a renewed sense of confidence, the Spurs are hoping this late-game performance isn’t the exception - it’s the new standard.