Jazz turn ball over 22 times against Spurs, lose another guard in first preseason defeat
by Caleb Turner, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SAN ANTONIO — Collin Sexton had a game-high 24 points in his most minutes of the preseason so far Saturday in San Antonio, but the uptick in usage may not have been planned coming into the game.
Utah rookie Isaiah Collier was forced to exit in the first half with a right hamstring injury and did not return to the game after earning the start alongside Sexton in the backcourt.
It was the second game in a row the Jazz lost a young guard to injury, with Keyonte George leaving Thursday's game in Dallas with a knee sprain. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported the Jazz are "optimistic (the sprain) will not prevent (George) from being ready for the regular-season opener."
Sexton stepped up during a preseason period where teams typically let young and non-guaranteed contract players get most of the run. The 25-year-old logged the most minutes of any player in the game with 31, but also led the game in turnovers with five of Utah's 22.
San Antonio scored 24 points off the 22 giveaways, led by Keldon Johnson with 20 total points on the night, including an explosive slam dunk over sophomore Taylor Hendricks.
Hendricks, Cody Williams and Walker Kessler picked up the bulk of the remaining minutes among the Jazz starters, with Williams and Hendricks both scoring in double digits with a pair of 3-pointers in their elevated roles.
Utah led the Spurs by a point at halftime but was outscored 74-67 in the second half for a 126-120 San Antonio win.
The loss marked the first of the preseason for the Jazz after starting 3-0. Utah closes out the preparatory period next week against Sacramento and Portland.
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Caleb Turner
Caleb Turner covers Real Salt Lake as the team's beat writer for KSL.com Sports. He also oversees the sports team's social media accounts.