The Spurs’ bubble adventure came to an anticlimactic end on Thursday. By the time they took the floor to face the Jazz in what would end up being a 118-112 loss, they already knew they had no chance to make it to the postseason.
It was clear from the start that the game didn’t matter, for either team. It was a mere formality, as the Spurs were already eliminated from playoff contention and the Jazz were locked into a matchup with the Nuggets in the first round before tip-off. Gregg Popovich decided to rest Derrick White, DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Patty Mills, which meant starting roles for Luka Samanic and Keldon Johnson.