Spurs thrash Jazz, take 2-0 series lead
The San Antonio Spurs handed Utah their second-heaviest playoff loss, beating the Jazz 114-83 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA first-round series.
The San Antonio Spurs handed Utah their second-heaviest playoff loss, beating the Jazz 114-83 on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA first-round series.
The Spurs cruised on autopilot after a 20-0 run in the second quarter that stunned the Jazz, who had vowed to play better after a one-sided defeat in Game 1. But this loss was even more humiliating.
San Antonio's Tony Parker scored 18 points and was not subject to the hard fouls he was supposed to have coming, while the Utah front court of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap wasn't any more imposing on offense. Jefferson scored 10 points, and Millsap had nine.
The only bigger embarrassment for the Jazz in the playoffs was a 42-point loss to Chicago in the 1998 NBA Finals. It was the most lopsided postseason win for the Spurs since beating Denver by 28 in 2005. San Antonio's playoff record is a 40-point victory over Denver in 1983.
Tim Duncan finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs.
Game 3 is on Saturday in Salt Lake City.