Spurs at Jazz
The San Antonio Spurs are in a precarious position as they resume play after the All-Star break by visiting the Utah Jazz on Friday. San Antonio resides in 10th place in the Western Conference - five games behind the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies as of Thursday - as it looks to make the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season.
The ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers are also ahead of the Spurs in the playoff mix but star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan is keeping a rosy outlook. "It ain't over until it's over," DeRozan told reporters. "The beauty of it, being able to compete in this stretch, is going out there and making that attempt to make it, to kind of switch the narrative and kind of fight back and be that underdog type of story. As a competitor, you definitely want to be a part of that, and we still have the opportunity." The Jazz have won four consecutive games and stand fourth in the West as they enter the second of six straight home contests. The hot streak follows a stretch in which Utah lost a season-worst five straight games.
TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: FS Southwest, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain
ABOUT THE SPURS (23-31): DeRozan missed the final two games before the All-Star break due to back spasms but practiced on Wednesday and indicated he was fine afterward. "I'm perfect," DeRozan told reporters. "I'm back. No problems. No issues. ... Last couple of days, even (Wednesday), I felt great. I felt the best physically I've felt all season." DeRozan is averaging 23 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 52 games and scored 20 or more in 22 of his past 25 appearances.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (36-18): Center Rudy Gobert (21 points, 11 rebounds) and shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (seven points) each played in their first All-Star Game but neither wants the contest to be high point in their seasons. "Now we have to keep pushing ourselves," Mitchell told reporters. "This is obviously a great moment in time, but we keep telling each other this isn't it." Gobert, who was 10-of-11 shooting in the All-Star Game, has 17 double-doubles in the past 18 games and 42 overall this season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Jazz won six of the past nine matchups but the host Spurs prevailed 127-120 on Jan. 29 in this season's lone meeting.
2. Utah reserve SG Jordan Clarkson is averaging 25.3 points while making 30-of-48 shooting over the past three games.
3. San Antonio PG Dejounte Murray is averaging 18.7 points, eight rebounds and seven assists over the past three games.