Culture & Sports
2018.12.05 21:20 GMT+8

NBA on Dec. 4: Spurs routed again by three-point shooting

CGTN

Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points, and the Utah Jazz made a franchise record of 20 three-pointers in a 139-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. 

Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyle Korver added 15 points off the bench in his first home game since Utah reacquired the veteran guard in a trade. 

The Jazz won for the third time in four games since dealing for Korver. 

The Jazz went 10 of 17 from long distance over the first two quarters and opened up a 63-47 lead by halftime. Overall, Utah hit 20 of 33 3-point attempts. 

Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs walks the sideline in the first half of an NBA game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 4, 2018, in Salt Lake City, Utah. /VCG Photo

Last week, in a piece published at the Chicago Bulls' website, head coach Popovich had told the writer Sam Smith his dissatisfaction over the trend of three-point shooting in the league. 

"These days, there's such an emphasis on the three because it's proven to be analytically correct," said Popovich. 

"Now you look at a stat sheet after a game and the first thing you look at is the threes. If you made threes and the other team didn't, you win. You don't even look at the rebounds or the turnovers or how much transition D was involved. You don't even care. That's how much an impact the three-point shot has and it's evidenced by how everybody plays," he added. 

"I hate it, but I always have. I've hated the three for 20 years. That's why I make a joke all the time if we're going to make it a different game, let's have a four-point play. Because if everybody likes the three, they'll really like the four. People will jump out of their seats if you have a five-point play. It will be great. There's no basketball anymore, there's no beauty in it. It's pretty boring. But it is what it is and you need to work with it." 

Other games on Tuesday include: (with the home team in bold) 

Sacramento Kings 122-105 Phoenix Suns

Dallas Mavericks 111-102 Portland Trail Blazers

Orlando Magic 105-90 Miami Heat

Indiana Pacers 96-90 Chicago Bulls 

(With input from Reuters.)

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