Stephen Curry gets too hot in the third quarter for Utah
Despite the return of their “big three”, the Warriors lost seven possessions in the first quarter, allowing Keyont George (22 points, 9 assists) and Lauri Markkanen (35 points) to take control of the match (18-10). It took the skill of Stephen Curry, Moses Moody and DeAnthony Melton (13 points) to hold off Golden State (29-25).
The Warriors regain the lead, but their defense struggles to slow down Utah (35-33). Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George score 22 of their team’s 36 points in the second quarter, Draymond Green gets confused with the referees and gets two technical fouls, synonymous with another ejection, while the Jazz go +12 (60-48)! It took a 3-pointer from Stephen Curry before the break to limit the damage (65-58).
Stephen Curry changed the game
Coming back out of the locker room, the Jazz maintain a deficit, but Golden State’s defense picks up the slack.
She starts to cause a few turnovers and Stephen Curry takes care of the rest. The dual MVP catches fire. He made 4 of 6 from long range and scored 20 points in the period to completely turn the tide and give the Warriors a seven-point lead (100-93).
Jimmy Butler (15 points, 7 assists) and Quinten Post (15 points) increase the deficit to +12 (113-101), and the Jazz are knocked out. Will Hardy’s players try to pick up the score, but their clumsiness is too great. After a complicated first half, the Warriors came back to win.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Stephen Curry puts on a show, Draymond Green gets kicked out. Dominated by the Thunder the day before without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler, the Warriors needed the return of their best player to defeat the Jazz. Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 31 points in the third quarter to change the game. Draymond Green only lasted twelve minutes on the court before leaving. Furious with the referees, he received the first technical foul. No one could control him and he took another technique which is synonymous with shutdown…
– Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George made stops in the second half. Unplayed in the first half, the Jazz duo scored 36 of their team’s 65 points before the break on 14/23 shooting. Golden State’s defense took over in the second half, though. Both players were limited to 7/22 on shots, which coincided with losing control of the match.
– The Warriors blow cold and hot with their turnovers. Steve Kerr can repeat, his players still lose a lot of balls. They wasted 10 in the first half, giving the Jazz 16 points. The coach’s exclamation changed the situation and the Warriors were much more rigorous after the break, losing only 5 balls for the opponent’s 6 points.
2026-01-04 06:02:00
