Preseason Grades: Spurs Vs. Jazz

The San Antonio Spurs returned to the court on Friday night at the Frost Bank Center and delivered a thrilling 134-130 overtime win over the Utah Jazz to improve to 3-0 in preseason play.

Why it matters: The starters sat out the second half, the game got close and it presented the younger players with the opportunity to impress the coaching staff as they work to make the team.

De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, Jordan McLaughlin, and Kelly Olynyk all missed the game with injuries. Dylan Harper made his preseason debut and he made the most from his first official game in Silver and Black.

We already know what Wemby can do, so he will be left out of this review. Here are the grades for three other players on the night.

David Jones Garcia: A-

With much of the regular rotation players out or sitting out the second half, David Jones Garcia used the moment to turn back the clock to the summer and showed the Spurs faithful why the team has faith in his abilities during the NBA Summer League.

Jones Garcia poured in 20 points in the second half, including eight points in the overtime period. He led the young group of NBA hopefuls in holding off a scrappy Utah squad.

“It feels good,” Garcia said. “I was just trying to win the game, so it feels good.”

However, with Jones Garcia’s two-way contract, he likely will spent the majority of the season with the G-League’s Austin Spurs. There, he will be able to craft and sharpen his game, working on his defense, consistency, and decision-making.

“He’s competitive and dynamic with the basketball,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of Jones Garcia. “If he can raise that other part of his game to match that, then he’s got a real chance.”