Warriors Outgun Jazz 123-114 in Statement Win
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 60 points as the Warriors held off the Jazz 123-114, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Curry and Thompson Ignite as Warriors Top Jazz 123-114
Salt Lake City—Under the bright lights of a raucous Delta Center, the Golden State Warriors reminded the league they still know how to close. Behind a vintage splash-brothers barrage, Steve Kerr’s crew surged past the Utah Jazz 123-114 on Tuesday night, snapping a two-game skid and rekindling chatter about another late-season push.
First Half: Fireworks in the Mountains
From the opening tip, pace was the operative word. Utah sprinted to a 34-27 first-quarter edge, buoyed by Lauri Markkanen’s hot hand and Jordan Clarkson’s fearless drives. Yet the Warriors, notorious for slow starts this season, answered with a 38-point second frame. Stephen Curry—who finished with 32—buried a pull-up three at the 7:12 mark that ignited a 14-2 run.
“We finally looked like us again,” Curry said postgame, towel draped over his head. “The ball was hopping, and we trusted the pass.”
Third-Quarter Surge Changes the Math
Kerr tweaked his rotation, pairing Draymond Green with rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis earlier than usual. The payoff: a clamp-down defense that held the Jazz to 38% shooting in the third. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson caught fire, scoring 14 of his 28 during the period, including a four-point play that brought Warriors staff off the bench.
- Golden State shot 54% from the field and 42% from deep
- Utah coughed up 17 turnovers leading to 23 Warrior points
- Curry’s plus-16 rating was a game-high
Jazz Fight Back, But Missed Free Throws Haunt
Trailing 97-88 entering the fourth, Utah clawed within three on a Collin Sexton floater with 4:11 to play. Yet the comeback stalled at the stripe: the Jazz went 8-of-14 from the line in the final quarter. “We left points out there,” coach Will Hardy admitted. “Against a championship team, that’s a death sentence.”
What It Means Moving Forward
The victory vaults Golden State to 35-30, within a half-game of the final Play-In spot in the West. For Utah, the loss dampens momentum from a three-game win streak and keeps them 10th at 31-34.
Next up, the Warriors head to Denver for a Thursday showdown that could tighten the standings even further. If Tuesday was any indication, the champs aren’t ready to hand over the crown just yet.