Spurs keep Utah at bay

FOXSports.com - NBA- Game Trax


There was a packed house at the SBC center in San Antonio tonight to watch the Spurs defeat the Utah Jazz 101 to 94. It was touch and go through most of first half, which ended with an injured Tim Duncan leaving the court with a sprained ankle. The second half turned into a drag down fight as the teams battled for the lead with just a point or two separating them for most of the way until a Spurs break out left the Jazz trailing.
With the Jazz whittling the Spurs lead to just 5 points with 4 minutes left the boys in Silver and Black came back with a 10-3 run. After a bout of tag with Manu Ginobili the Jazz failed to regain possesion and ended the game defeted and demoralized failing to break the hundred point mark.

There's always been bad blood between the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz. Since the days of Karl Malone battling David Robinson on the court these two teams have had it out for each other but, let's face it, Utah has lost their edge. With the Jazz trailing at the bottom end of their division at 20-38 the once "Evil Empire" has been reduced to a dried out shell of their former selves.
We now enter the ass end of the season and the real nail-biters begin. Take Tuesdays game against New Jersey for example. With the Nets in third place in the Atlantic Division they need to make a good show and come out swinging to prove a point. With Kidd and Carter still hurting off their 81-105 loss to Orlando it's do or die time for them come Tuesday. Tim Duncan will most likely be out for the next few games and the sense of Spurs vulnerablity must have them hooting with glee in Jew Jersey in anticipation of a good night on Tuesday. This forces me to take a good look at the Atlantic Division for the first time all season.
Speaking of good nights tonight was one for former Spur Sean Eliot who had his number 32 retired tonight at the SBC center after the game. Guests included former teamamtes David Robinson and Avery Johnson as well as the Govorners of Arizona and Texas, the latter of whom made the Arizona native an "Honaray Texan for Life".