Spurs 118, Jazz 81
SAN ANTONIO -- Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs smashed the weary Utah Jazz 118-81 Monday night.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge and guard Tony Parker added 18 points apiece in the lopsided win for the steam-rolling Spurs.
No San Antonio starter played more than 24 minutes as the team improved to 21-5 and won its third game in a row in blowout fashion.
The Spurs, who led the Jazz by as many as 46 points, beat their previous two opponents, the Lakers and Hawks, by an average of 23.5 points.
Center Derrick Favors was one of only three Jazz players in double figures with 16 points. Starting point guard Raul Neto scored 12 and backup guard Trey Burke added 10.
Utah, which is playing without injured center Rudy Gobert (knee), fell for the second night in a row to one of the Western Conference's top teams. The Jazz dropped a 104-98 overtime game in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
This was the third loss in a row for Utah, which fell to 10-13.
Forward Gordon Hayward, who leads the Jazz with an average of 19.0 points per game, didn't score in the first half. He finished with just four points on 1-of-5 shooting in 23 minutes.
The Jazz shot 40.5 percent from the field and only scored 36 points in the first half.
This game was never competitive after Parker broke a 2-2 tie with a layup. That sparked a 15-2 run for the Spurs. San Antonio led by 14 after the first quarter, by 23 at halftime and by 40 going into the fourth.
San Antonio shot 56 percent from the field, outrebounded Utah 48-32 and had 21 fast-break points.
Thirteen players saw action and scored for the Spurs, including double-digit outings for guard Patty Mills (11) and forward Matt Bonner (10).
Bonner hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth and received a huge ovation and cheers from teammates after he made a behind-the-back dribble and spin move for a highlight basket early in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Jazz coach Quin Snyder came to the defense of veteran Bill Kennedy when asked about Kings guard Rajon Rondo making a homophobic slur against the respected NBA referee. "It's unfortunate. It's disgusting because Billy is a great guy and has been a class act on and off the court," Popovich said. "As far as anybody's sexual orientation, it's nobody's business." ... Snyder credited NBA players, particularly his guys, for being "socially conscious." The Jazz coach added: "Billy Kennedy is a good ref and a good person. We support him in any way we can." ... Kennedy was on the crew that officiated Monday's game. ... The Jazz changed their lineup for the second night in a row. Rookie Raul Neto resumed his point guard role after having been replaced in the first five by Alec Burks on Sunday in Oklahoma City. Snyder said he liked the 6-foot-6 Burks better against Russell Westbrook and the quick 6-4 Neto against Tony Parker. "We're going to keep trying to figure out what helps us be better." ... The Spurs, 12-0 at home coming into Monday, last opened 13-0 at the AT&T Center in 2007.