Jazz at Spurs
THE STORY: The last time Gregg Popovich was named NBA Coach of the Year, the San Antonio Spurs went on to win the NBA championship. That bodes well for the Spurs, who resume their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday night against the visiting San Antonio Spurs. Popovich was named coach of the year for a second time Tuesday after leading the Spurs to 50 regular-season victories. San Antonio earned a convincing 106-91 win over Utah in the series opener.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT, Fox Sports Southwest
ABOUT THE JAZZ: Utah had no answer for the Spurs in the opener, surrendering 58 points in the paint while allowing San Antonio to shoot nearly 48 percent from the field. Franchise power forward Al Jefferson said he and his teammates remained upbeat despite the one-sided loss. "Believe it or not, we do walk out with our heads up a little bit," said Jefferson, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in his first taste of postseason action since his rookie 2004-05 campaign. "Now let's just go and watch film and learn from our mistake, then get ready for Game 2."
ABOUT THE SPURS: Ever humble, Popovich credited much of his success with San Antonio to the fortuitous arrivals of franchise centers David Robinson and Tim Duncan. "If you can draft David Robinson and follow that up with Tim Duncan, that's a couple of decades of very, very possible success unless you just screw it up," he said. "So it's hard to take credit when circumstances have gone your way so consistently." The aging Duncan showed signs of his old self in the series opener, erupting for 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tony Parker led the way with 28 points and eight assists
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Popovich, who last won the coach-of-the-year award in 2003, earned 77 first-place votes to easily outdistance runner-up Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls (27). Indiana's Frank Vogel (seven) finished third.
2. San Antonio hasn't lost at home to Utah since dropping a 105-98 decision Jan. 20, 2010.