Spurs Dominate Jazz As Fox And Wembanyama Shine In Salt Lake City

The San Antonio Spurs stormed into Salt Lake City on January 22, 2026, and left with a convincing 126-109 victory over the Utah Jazz, but the night was about much more than just the final score. This was a game packed with individual milestones, career-highs, and a dash of trade deadline intrigue that has both fanbases buzzing as the NBA season barrels forward.

Let’s start with the headliners: De’Aaron Fox was simply electric for the Spurs, pouring in 31 points on an ultra-efficient 10-of-13 shooting, including six made threes. His hot hand set the tone early and helped the Spurs build momentum after a tightly contested opening quarter. According to KSL Sports, "De’Aaron Fox is off to a hot start against the Jazz with 10 of the Spurs’ first 16." Fox’s ability to knock down shots from all over the court was a nightmare for Utah’s defense, which has struggled all season to contain high-powered offenses.

But Fox wasn’t alone in making noise for San Antonio. Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ young phenom, bounced back from a tough outing against Houston to deliver a dominant performance: 26 points, 13 rebounds, and a whopping five blocks while shooting 9-of-14 from the field and draining four threes. Wembanyama’s presence was felt on both ends, with highlight-reel snatch blocks and timely buckets that kept the Jazz at bay. As the Associated Press put it, Wembanyama “shot 9 of 14 with four 3s one game after a 5-of-21 performance in a loss to Houston.”

Keldon Johnson chipped in 21 points, and rookie Stephon Castle filled up the stat sheet with 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. The Spurs, who have now won four of their last five, looked every bit the part of a team finding its stride at a pivotal juncture of the season.

For all the Spurs’ offensive fireworks, the Jazz had their own standout stories—none bigger than rookie Ace Bailey. The 19-year-old forward erupted for a career-high 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, adding five rebounds and a handful of eye-popping plays that had the Delta Center crowd roaring. Bailey’s performance was historic, as he became the highest-scoring teenager in franchise history, surpassing Dante Exum’s rookie mark. As Ben Anderson noted, “With 25 points, he now has 413 points on the season, surpassing Dante Exum, who had 393 in his rookie season. Exum played all 82 games in year one, Bailey has played 38.”

Keyonte George, another young Jazz guard, provided 23 points and four assists, but his scoring dried up in the fourth quarter just as the Spurs pulled away. Utah’s offense, which looked crisp at times, struggled to keep pace when it mattered most. The Jazz were tied with San Antonio at 31 after the first quarter, but a 17-2 Spurs run to open the second quarter put the home team on its heels. By halftime, Utah trailed 65-53 and never fully recovered.

Yet the biggest subplot swirling in Salt Lake City isn’t just about rookie development—it’s about Jusuf Nurkic, the veteran center who’s suddenly rewriting the Jazz record books. Nurkic notched his second consecutive triple-double with 17 points, 14 assists, and 11 rebounds. The last time a Jazz player accomplished back-to-back triple-doubles? Pete Maravich, way back in January 1975. The Jazz went more than 15 seasons without a single triple-double until Nurkic’s back-to-back feats. As KSL Sports highlighted, “Back-to-back triple-doubles for Jusuf Nurkic. 11 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds. He’s been a great addition for the Jazz this season.”

Most of Nurkic’s assists came on sharp backdoor passes from the high post, leading to easy dunks and layups for his teammates. His unselfishness and court vision have drawn praise from coach Will Hardy and teammates alike. Hardy remarked, “It’s amazing how hard people will cut if they think they’re gonna get it.” That kind of leadership and skill has made Nurkic a favorite in the locker room, but it’s also put the Jazz in a tricky spot as the trade deadline looms.

With Nurkic set to hit free agency this summer—and nearly $130 million in career earnings—Utah faces a decision: trade him now and recoup assets, or bet on re-signing him despite the risk of losing him to a higher offer. The Bosnian big man’s value has never been higher, especially after posting triple-doubles against elite defenders like Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama in consecutive games. As Ben Anderson wrote, “If the Jazz hoped to shop Nurkic ahead of the trade deadline, his timing couldn’t be better.”

Meanwhile, the Jazz’s recent slide—four losses in their last five games—has fans and analysts alike pondering the team’s direction. With Lauri Markkanen still sidelined by illness (the Jazz are now 1-11 without him), Utah’s young core is being tested nightly. The front office will have to decide whether to invest in the current roster, target another high-upside draft pick, or accelerate the rebuild via trade. One thing’s for sure: Ace Bailey’s development will be a major focus for the remainder of the season. “At 19, Bailey is already the most promising teenager in franchise history,” Anderson wrote, noting his impressive 45-point output over the last two games.

Statistically, the Spurs dominated in several key areas. San Antonio shot 50.6% from the field and a sizzling 41.9% from beyond the arc, while outscoring Utah 32-10 in fast-break points. Utah’s defense, which allows an NBA-worst 127.3 points per game, simply couldn’t contain the Spurs’ multi-pronged attack. The Jazz did manage to cut the deficit to five with seven minutes left in the third quarter, but the Spurs responded with a 10-0 run and never looked back. Fox’s three-pointer with just under seven minutes to play pushed the lead to double digits and effectively sealed the outcome.

Looking ahead, both teams have little time to dwell on the result. The Spurs will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, while the Jazz look to regroup against the Miami Heat on Saturday. For Utah, the next few weeks could define not just their season, but their long-term future—especially as trade rumors around Nurkic swirl and Bailey’s star continues to rise.

On a night filled with milestones, breakout performances, and looming questions, the Spurs’ victory was only part of the story. With the trade deadline approaching and young talents blossoming, both franchises are poised for an eventful stretch run.