Spurs’ win streak sacrificed to rest Big Three

1 of 15 | Share

Jazz 91, Spurs 84: April 9, 2012


Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) works against San Antonio Spurs guard Daniel Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors, left, passes around San Antonio Spurs guard Daniel Green during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs guard Daniel Green, right, shoots over Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) looks for a shot against Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs guard Stephen Jackson (3) takes a shot over Utah Jazz forward DeMarre Carroll (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair, left, takes a shot while defended by Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Utah Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin directs his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Fan participate in a Silly String fight during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter (22) attempts a shot while defended by Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich watches his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Utah Jazz guard Gordon Hayward (20) takes a shot while defended by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephen Jackson during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)


Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap (24) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Boris Diaw (33) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal walks off the court after the Utah Jazz defeated the Spurs 91-84 in an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Utah Jazz guard Devin Harris (5) drives past San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) for a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)


Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap (24) dunks in front of San Antonio Spurs guard Daniel Green (4) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, April 9, 2012, in Salt Lake City. The Jazz won 91-84. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart) (AP)

  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball
  • Spurs Jazz Basketball

By Mike Monroe

SALT LAKE CITY — Ninety minutes before tipoff of what became his team’s first loss in 23 days, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich answered the question everyone inside EnergySolutions Arena couldn’t wait to ask: Which great Spurs had not been on the passenger manifest for the team’s flight that followed a victory over the Jazz at the ATT Center on Sunday?

After all, hadn’t the Spurs coach shown his hand about perhaps holding some players out of Monday’s rematch with the Jazz when he held two regulars out of Sunday’s game?

With some drama, Popovich ticked off names: George Gervin hadn’t been on the plane, he said.

David Robinson hadn’t traveled to Utah, either, the coach informed, unable to suppress a grin.

Ultimately, Popovich admitted he had ordered his Big Three All-Stars — Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker — to remain in San Antonio, perhaps to watch the telecast of the game with The Admiral and The Iceman.

Without the Big Three, the Spurs fell to the Jazz 91-84 in a game long on physicality and bereft of artistry.

The loss ended the Spurs’ stay atop the Western Conference after three days. Combined with Oklahoma City’s victory in Milwaukee, the Spurs (40-15) again trail the Thunder by one game.

Trying just to get into the Western playoffs, the Jazz scrapped for rebounds, blocks and loose balls in crunch time, something Popovich expected.

“They’re the Jazz,” he said. “There has never been a night they don’t play hard.”

Even without their stars, the Spurs had a 12th straight win within their sights. When Utah’s Al Jefferson goaltended a Gary Neal floater with 3:38 remaining, the Spurs had a slim lead at 80-78.

But Neal’s shot was followed by five straight Spurs misses, so when Utah’s Devin Harris scored 10 points in four possessions, nailing two 3-pointers, the Jazz snatched the lead, the momentum and, ultimately, the win.

“Like a lot of NBA games, you have got to make shots,” Popovich said, “and Devin Harris came down and knocked down two in transition in a row, and on the other end, we couldn’t throw it in the ocean.”

Monday’s was the second game this season the Spurs tried to extend an 11-game win streak without their Big Three, but the first in which injuries played no factor. Ginobili was on the sidelines with a strained left oblique when Popovich opted to sit Duncan and Parker in Portland on Feb. 21, one night after his team beat the Jazz to record its first 11-game win streak of the season.

This time, all three players were healthy enough.

Popovich blamed their absence Monday on a schedule that crammed too many games into the final few weeks of the season.

“However you want to look at it, 13 games in 18 days or 16 games in 23 days or ending the season four in five nights, it’s just crazy,” Popovich said. “So I’ve got to do something about it. It just doesn’t make sense to have those guys playing four in five nights, anything like that.”

The decision to go without the Big Three was made in December, not long after Popovich got his first look at the 66-game schedule the NBA decided to cram into 124 days after the end of the lockout.

“It’s pretty much a no-brainer when you look at our schedule,” he said. “We tried to figure it out at the beginning of the season.”

Popovich gave a hint that Monday’s back-to-back rematch would be the second game this season without the Big Three when he gave DeJuan Blair and Stephen Jackson the night off against the Jazz on Sunday. That meant 31 minutes for Duncan and Parker, 28 for Ginobili and banishment from the team flight.

mikemonroe@express-news.net
Twitter: @Monroe_SA

Leave a Reply