2012 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals Game#3
#1 San Antonio Spurs at #8 Utah Jazz
Best of Seven Series Format 2-2-1-1-1
Spurs Lead Series 2-0
Energy Solutions Arena – Salt Lake City, Utah
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:05 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: San Antonio -5 1/2
Current Line: San Antonio -6
Opening Total: 202
Current Total: 201
Opening Money Line: Spurs – 255 / Jazz +215
Current Money Line: Spurs -240 / Jazz +200
After two blowout wins in San Antonio by the Spurs, the series switches to Salt Lake City for the next two games. San Antonio, coached by NBA coach of the year Gregg Popovich, beat the Utah Jazz, coached by Tyrone Corbin 106-91 in game 1 and 114-83 in Game 2 Wednesday night. Many thought the young and pesky Jazz would give the Spurs a series, but it hasn’t happened so far. It might be a different story in Salt Lake with the altitude and one of the loudest and craziest arenas in the league.
In the game #2 rout, the Spurs handed the Jazz their worst postseason loss since Michael Jordan and the Bulls gave them a 42 point beatdown in the 1998 NBA finals. The Spurs went on a 20-0 run in the second quarter to put the game out of reach. The Spurs had 7 players in double digit scoring including all 5 starters. Tony Parker scored 18 and added 4 rebounds, and 9 assists. Forward Kawhi Leonard scored 17 points. Daniel Green had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Tim Duncan added 12 points and 13 rebounds. Boris Diaw had 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Gary Neal added 11 points, and DeJuan Blair had 10 points and 7 rebounds, both off the bench. Manu Ginobli had an off night with only 4 points. As a team the Spurs shot 57.3% from the field including 10/22 from 3 point range. San Antonio made all 10 of their free throw attempts. The Spurs had 44 rebounds, 28 assists, and 12 turnovers. San Antonio had 29 fast break points and 62 points in the paint.
Utah shot only 34.4% from the field including 1/6 from 3 point range. The Jazz made 20 of 23 free throws. Utah had 43 rebounds, 16 assists, and 15 turnovers. The Jazz had 18 fast break points, and 36 points in the paint. Josh Howard and Al Jefferson each scored 10 points but no other Jazz players scored in double digits.
Utah guards Earl Watson and C.J. Miles are both out for the season. San Antonio forwards Matt Bonner (thigh) and Tiago Splitter (wrist) are both probable Saturday.
San Antonio is 44-20-4 ATS and the total is 39-28-1 this season. Utah is 34-33-1 ATS and the total is 32-34-2 this season. The favorite is 20-6-1 ATS in this series recently, and the home team is 21-8-1 as well. The Spurs are 4-1-1 ATS in the last 6 against the Jazz. Five of the last seven played in Salt Lake City between the teams have gone over the total.
The Spurs are 5-0-1 ATS as a favorite of 5-10.5 points, including 3-0-1 on the road, 7-0 on 2 days rest, 8-1-3 as a road favorite, 12-2-2 after a straight up win of 10 points or more, 5-1-1 against Northwest Division teams, 14-3-1 on the road against teams with winning home records, 25-7-2 against Western conference teams, 24-7-3 after a cover, 37-11-4 overall, 6-2 in Saturday games, 21-7-2 against teams with winning records, 17-6-3 after scoring 100 points or more, 18-7-3 in road games, 33-14-4 as a favorite, 33-15-4 after a straight up win, 2-5-1 in conference quarterfinal games, and as a playoff favorite, and 0-4-1 as a playoff favorite of 5-10.5 points.
The Jazz are 6-0 ATS at home against teams with winning road records, 3-9 as a playoff underdog of 5-10.5 points, 1-4 against Southwest division teams, and as an underdog, and 1-5 as a home underdog of 5-10.5 points.
After being embarrassed in the first round last year by the #8 Memphis Grizzlies, the Spurs seem to have no interest in letting Utah hang around. The Spurs lost in the first round last year in 6 games. Granted Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli were both injured in that series. If Utah is going to steal a win in this series, it could happen tonight with a packed arena filled with Jazz fans who haven’t seen a playoff game since Jerry Sloane retired a few seasons ago. I think Utah makes it a game, but the Spurs simply have too much for them.
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