Gillespie's 25 Can't Answer a Third-Quarter Collapse

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Monday, October 12

The Spurs fell 109-119 at Utah on October 12, outscored 31-17 in a third quarter that turned a close game into a rout. Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored a team-high 25 points in reserve, but no starter matched his efficiency.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What turned this into a blowout?

Utah led wire to wire and tied the game only once, never trailing. The separation came in the third quarter, when the Jazz outscored San Antonio 31-17, then closed a 9-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to push the lead to 101-80. The margin peaked at 26, and the result was no longer in question.

Who was the best Spur on the floor?

Ja'Kobi Gillespie, playing in reserve, scored 25 points, making 9 of 14 shots and 4 of 8 threes, with three steals in 25 minutes, and finished plus-7. R.J. Davis posted a plus-8 mark in just 15 minutes. Both outplayed every starter San Antonio used that night.

Which starters struggled the most?

Julian Champagnie made just 5 of 13 shots, turned it over five times and finished minus-17, the worst mark in the game. Harrison Barnes scored 19 but needed 12 free throws to get there, making only 3 of 8 field goals, and finished minus-13. Luke Kornet was minus-16 in 22 minutes.

Who finished the game for San Antonio?

With the outcome decided, Mitch Johnson closed with Davis and Gillespie, joined by Jon Elmore, Taelon Peter and the rest of the reserves. Gillespie scored 15 of his 25 in the fourth quarter alone, and Davis added 5, the only two Spurs who scored in those final minutes.

What does the loss change?

San Antonio played its second straight road game on one day's rest, part of a stretch of two games in seven days. The Spurs get Phoenix again on October 14, this time at home, after falling 98-102 to the same Suns four days earlier.

The verdictThe third quarter was the story again, and Gillespie's 25 points said more about the quiet around him than about anything fixed. San Antonio needs its starters to find that stretch before games start counting.

What was the final score of the Spurs-Jazz preseason game on October 12, 2026?

The Jazz beat the Spurs 119-109 in Salt Lake City, leading from start to finish.

Who scored the most points for the Spurs against Utah?

Reserve guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie led San Antonio with 25 points, making 9 of 14 shots, including three steals in 25 minutes.