Jazz edge Spurs subs

With its top three scorers not making the trip and staying back home in Texas instead, reserves Tiago Splitter and Gary Neal topped the Spurs' scoring with 14 points apiece. DeJuan Blair added 13 points and eight rebounds for San Antonio (40-15), now second in the West's overall standings.

"The big difference in the game, like with a lot of NBA games down the stretch, is you have got to make shots," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

"And Devin came down and knocked down two in transition in a row — and on the other end, we couldn't throw it in the ocean."

"I think both teams were digging deep," said the Spurs' Matt Bonner, who scored 10 points off the bench, "especially after playing last night and having the long flight here. It was like a heavyweight boxing match, and it was coming down to the end. They hit us with a couple extra punches."

And even though their "Big Three" was missing in action and the Spurs made do with their junior varsity and second-stringers, the Jazz will gladly take it — even though their teetering playoff hopes are hanging on the ropes, desperately trying to avoid being counted out.

email: rhollis@desnews.com

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