The Utah Jazz have responded to the hype they got in the off season by winning one of their first 13 games. Injuries to their two best players have a lot to do with that, but they’ve been playing predictably and are struggling to make outside shots. Being small with four perimeter players and a big with no offensive bag has made it harder to bend opposing defenses, as a result, ensuring that they stay in a transition game more than they like.
Still, it would be unwise to think they will roll over
quickly. Flawed as they are, they can creep back in through the door if the San Antonio Spurs are playing with their food. Even if a team has a basement record, sometimes they show up stronger than the numbers because they are desperate to get back in the win column.
The Spurs will head into Delta Center on an 11-game win streak, tied for their sixth-longest in franchise history. The streak is long enough that every team in the NBA is well aware, adding a higher level of intrigue to the game. This will be the third matchup between these teams this season.
San Antonio Spurs (11-2) vs Utah Jazz (1-2)
Nov. 15, 2026: 4PM CT
Watch: DAZN: Listen WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris — out (left calf strain); Jayden Quaintance — out (right knee surgery); Maliq Brown — out (G League); Ja’Kobi Gillespie — out (G League)
Jazz Injuries: Lauri Markkanen — out (right hand fracture); Jaren Jackson Jr. — out (right knee); Jaxson Hayes — out (left knee strain); Jusuf Nurkić — out (right foot); Trey Alexander — out (G League); Kobe Bufkin — out (G League); Harrison Ingram — out (G League).
What to watch for
- Darryn Peterson is a rookie, and he has the goods. He’s elusive on the dribble, mostly getting to work through screen rolls, with his preferred spots being the paint non-restricted area and at mid-range. He and Keyonte George should carry the bulk of the scoring load, so the Spurs will have to stay on their hips, and try to force them to attack going left, which is the off-hand of both players.
- The Spurs starting lineup ties for the fifth-most used in the NBA, and it has been the most-efficient high-usage rotation, logging an impressive 84.6 defensive rating. It shouldn’t be a surprise if this lineup is the one creating the most separation on the scoreboard since it has the most down-hill attackers who can quickly turn a miss into transition.
- Even if the Spurs’ transition numbers (55.2 percentile) aren’t the best, they get out in open court so much that it wears out the opponents.
- Victor Wembanyama is averaging 24 points, 12.5 rebounds and five assists in two games versus the Jazz this season, while making 78.6 of his shots within 10 feet. He may be in for a 40-point night since he will have some energy saved up from not having to go hard guarding his man, which could be Mo Bamba and some smaller players.
- Julian Champagnie’s role has changed a bit as a reserve this season, but his impact has been greater, being a top-notch release valve logging career high in efficiency by a significant margin (66.0 EFG percentage). He is averaging 42.2 percent from 3-point range for the year, and 44.4 percent against the Jazz. Notably, Champagnie is a feature in the third-most used Spurs’ lineup, which is him with the starters in Devin Vassell’s place. Expect Jazz defenders to lock-and-trail well when he changes spots in the half-court, but the schemes will be programmed to take away the on-ball threats. Champagnie will have the chance to feast because of that.
- Since the level of competition is lower level, perhaps this is a game in which Carter Bryant will shine. His career high was 17 points last year, and even with his struggles this season, that number is beatable since the Jazz can’t guard a parked car.
