Just like last night, we have a bad team in a good spot. It's actually the Spurs' last true home game and if ever there was going to be effort this is the time. Utah is a team that's in all likelihood not going to make the playoffs and although it's mathematically possible, they know the handwriting is on the wall. They've now lost four straight and three of those at home. On the road they are 13-24, and play Boston and Brooklyn on the road in the next few days. I don't see a situation where they should be a sizable road favorite to anyone, really, and in this case even without Sheldon Johnson. We saw what happened to Utah against the Suns the other night even with Markkanen back. Utah shut down Clarkson and Sexton, don't have Rudy Gay, and have no reason to want to play hard.
12:45 PM EST - without looking I could tell from the line movement that Markkenen is now out. Any points are good points because SA may well win outright and I was half expecting them to anyway.