The National Basketball Association's top defensive team San Antonio Spurs thumped the surging Utah Jazz with a 98-78 victory on Thursday night at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, in Salt Lake City.

All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs to register their 49^th win in 58 games played this season with a game-high 29 points along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Veteran guard Tony Parker added 16 points, including 2-of-2 treys from beyond the arc, .

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Tim Duncan had a double-double game production of 14 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 7 for 11 from the field and LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 points in 33 minutes of playing time.

"This is the best game since we came back from break," the five NBA champion coach Gregg Popovich stated. "We had been really spotty and undisciplined, but what really helped us is that they are so good at execution. It actually helped us tonight because they used the whole clock and we had to play (defense) over and over."

"The first quarter we were awful. We got better and better defensively because we had to guard their execution, which is excellent," he added.

San Antonio ended the first half of the game with a four-point advantage 39-35 as both teams went into their respective locker rooms.  In the second half of the game, the Spurs gave Utah a hard time scoring with tough defensive play, containing the team to its lowest point total of the season.

The Spurs, who had a better 48.1 field goal percentage compared to the 49.6 percent of the Jazz, are currently on a four-game winning streak and have won 21 games in 30 games played on road this season.

With the loss, Utah is a half game behind the eighth ranked Houston Rockets, which won against the Portland Trail Blazers, in the Western Conference team standings.

Forward Derrick Favors led the Jazz, who will be hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, with 25 points.

TagsSan Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, NBA