Ace Continues Sizzling Playoff Debut To Put San Antonio On the Brink
April 24th, 2028 | Delta Arena, Salt Lake City, UT.
First Round | Game 4 | San Antonio Spurs (1-2) @ Utah Jazz (2-1)
SAS | 37 | 32 | 29 | 25 | 123
UTA | 39 | 31 | 33 | 30 | 133
Ace Bailey put up 17 of his 51 in the pivotal 4th-quarter as Utah took a commanding 3-1 lead.
| Name | Points | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | FG | 3PT | FT |
| PG De'Aaron Fox | 14 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6/17 | 1/6 | 1/2 |
| SG Dylan Harper | 23 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10/16 | 3/7 | 0/0 |
| SF Devin Vassell | 25 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9/16 | 5/9 | 2/2 |
| PF Stephon Castle | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3/5 | 1/3 | 1/2 |
| C Victor Wembanyama | 23 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10/14 | 1/1 | 2/2 |
| SF Carter Bryant | 11 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5/8 | /4 | 0/0 |
| Total | 123 | 32 | 34 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 50/87(57%) | 14/35(40%) | 9/11(82%) |
| Name | Points | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | FG | 3PT | FT |
| PG Anthony Black | 30 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11/16 | 1/4 | 7/8 |
| SG Cam Thomas | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4/10 | 3/5 | 0/0 |
| SF Ace Bailey | 51 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 18/28 | 5/6 | 0/13 |
| PF PJ Washington | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 |
| C Bam Adebayo | 13 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5/6 | 1/2 | 2/2 |
| PG Keyonte George | 20 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4/8 | 1/4 | 10/11 |
| Total | 133 | 38 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 46/82(56%) | 12/24(50%) | 29/34(85%) |
Salt Lake City, UT. - San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson made a pre-game adjustment before Game 4, inserting Stephon Castle into the starting lineup in hopes of generating more concerted defensive pressure on Ace Bailey—who has topped 40 points in every game of the series.
The strategy backfired spectacularly.
Game 4 became the highest-scoring affair of the series, with Utah outlasting San Antonio 133-123 in an offensive showcase where both teams shot over 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three. But the Jazz's ability to get to the free-throw line proved to be the difference-maker: Utah scored 20 more points from the stripe than the Spurs by game's end.
Bailey was dominant throughout, putting up 51 points with remarkable efficiency. He saved his best for last, scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter alone to transform a precarious 5-point lead into a comfortable 10-point cushion.
When asked about Utah's significant advantage at the free-throw line, Bailey remained measured and poised.
"We're executing, fighting for good shots, and when they're playing tight defense, contact happens," Bailey said. "The refs made the calls they saw. I can't control that. What I can control is making the shots when we get them—and we did that today. That was the difference."
Richard Jefferson, analyzing the game on broadcast, was struck by Bailey's composure in his first playoff series.
"You watch him out there and he moves like a playoff veteran," Jefferson said during the fourth quarter. "Someone who knows what to expect and has the perfect counter for everything. I keep having to remind myself—this is his first playoff series ever. His poise is remarkable for someone his age."
The Jazz head back to San Antonio with a 3-1 series lead, one victory away from advancing to the second round and eliminating Victor Wembanyama and the defending champion Spurs.
But Jefferson offered a word of caution to Utah fans celebrating prematurely.
"Utah better not get caught playing with their food," he warned as the game wound down. "This Spurs team is still dangerous. Wemby is still playing at an elite level. If you told me San Antonio wins three straight to take this series, I wouldn't call you crazy."
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday night in San Antonio.
I'm using our boy mvp's sliders and I dropped the last two games I played going into the playoffs
