SALT LAKE CITY — On the heels of a one-sided overtime period that the San Antonio Spurs used to claim their third straight win, 117-111, over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center, Mitch Johnson took the podium and explained that the team had his back on a late coaching error.

About a minute later, the Spurs' coach did the same for backup center Luke Kornet.

"The four guys that are out there with Luke need to be better," Johnson said, asked about Kornet's early-season struggles and how the Spurs can get him going. "Sometimes, the Luke thing gets so exasperated because (the narrative) is Luke vs. Victor (Wembanyama)."

Through five games this season, the center is averaging 2.4 points and 3.6 rebounds on 36.4 percent shooting from the field, compared to 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds on 64.3 percent shooting across 68 appearances last season.…