Spurs withstand upheaval by Utah, win 100-101 in final seconds.

Mitchell nearly downed the Spurs at the buzzer.

A sluggish outing for both rival teams turned volatile after Rudy Gobert (25 points, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks) spear-headed a fierce road team rally in the 3rd Quarter, foreshadowing a tumultuous final period. Utah won the third, 28-18.

Meanwhile, San Antonio was weighed down by foul trouble for both Andre Drummond (12 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks) and uncharacteristically, Brandon Ingram. Both stars were whistled for fouls in the first minute of action. Drummond would eventually foul out of the showdown with 1:40 left to play, despite salvaging his performance with some nice defensive plays and dunks on second chance baskets.

The Jazz may have sprung to life first, threatening to become only the third team to defeat the Spurs at home (and only the fourth team to defeat them, at all, this season), but Fred VanVleet (12 points, 2 steals, 1 block) came through in the clutch and Dejounte Murray (19 points, 5 assists) took up the leader's mantle, rocking the rim in transition and posterizing Gobert midway through the 4th Quarter to the roar of the Spurs loyal. Murray would keep the Jazz at bay, hitting two free throws with 90 seconds to go.

The tantalizing pick-and-roll by Mitchell & Gobert nearly eviscerated the Spurs defense, spoiling a nice shot by Ingram as Utah made it 95-97, a two-point tight-wire act. San Antonio's prowess and timing on the offensive glass was vital to this narrow victory. Mike Conley (13 points, 14 assists), who'd caught fire in the 3rd Quarter along with the Stifle Tower, Gobert, missed a corner 3PT shot that would've stolen the lead with 40s on the clock. Unfortunately, Gobert would get the rebound and make one of two shots at the line.

Gobert & Mitchell reminded fans why Utah went seven games with the Spurs last April.

With thirty seconds ticking down, Kent Bazemore (14 points) sealed a tough layup in transition past Joe Ingles (0-4 3PT) to give the Spurs a three-point yield as Utah called timeout. Mitchell would get hacked by Allen (8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks), bury the two free throws to make it a 1-PT affair, then rip the ball off the inbound pass and temporarily steal the show in Texas, hitting the quick bunny. This amazing play forced high-point man, Brandon Ingram (23 points, 9 rebounds), to fire back at the rim, only for Gobert to swat it away. Luckily, Ingram's second jump was a bit faster as he called a timeout after the loose ball rescue at 13.4 on the clock. The Slender-Man would make a clutch dunk of his own on the next possession, catching the inbound pass and spinning on a dime with an open lane to the hoop, 100-101: Spurs.

With 10.7 left, and no timeouts remaining, Donovan Mitchell (24 points, 1-5 3PT) got the hero's ball in his hands. Murray met him at halfcourt, with the game on the line. Ingram would catch up, swarm Mitchell with a double-team and knock the ball loose momentarily. 4.5 seconds diminished in the suspense, as Donovan clutched for the ball, spun around getting an inch of fleeting separation from Murray. Recovering to the front of Mitchell, Dejounte overstepped backwardly forced to watch the Jazz star's would-be dagger take flight.

The ball hit back-iron off the rim, as the buzzer sounded.

"So that's what a heart attack feels like," Coach Popovich joked on the sidelines. "Hats off to the Utah Jazz. We gave them every opportunity tonight, and somehow, someway, maybe that Brandon Ingram guy, the box score will say the San Antonio Spurs won this game tonight."

The Rest:

Both teams shot below 50%, with the Jazz going 18% from 3PT range to the Spurs 29% perimeter results. The Jazz were more aggressive by far, causing the Spurs foul trouble woes, but missed 7 of 28 free throws, ultimately losing by a point. The Spurs did win the interior battle, 66-64 and the second chance points column, 14-10, dishing five more assists. San Antone had one less turnover and led by 14 at one point. Utah led by as many as 8 points, as this rivalry burns even hotter after this 9th straight victory for the defending champions with Cleveland next to visit.