Game Report: Warriors solidify standing with victory over Jazz
The Golden State Warriors have solidified their standing atop the western conference, downing the Jazz 123-116 in Utah.
Having had their game in Denver postponed, and with the Jazz on a second night of a back-to-back, the Warriors took advantage of their fresher legs in the opening half.
The Golden State Warriors rolled into Utah looking to make a statement and their dominant victory over the Jazz speaks for itself.
Remaining in the starting line-up after a below par performance against Denver, it was Otto Porter Jr. who had the Dubs rolling in the opening period. He had 11 points and a handful of big boards and delightful dimes, leading Golden State to a 29-24 after 12 minutes.
On the back of Porter’s early heroics, it was Andrew Wiggins who produced for the Dubs in the second. His 12 points, including a couple of threes, extended the lead to 14 at half time.
It was more than just the individual brilliance that had the Warriors on top; it was a rediscovery of their signature ball movement, the 22 team assists displaying a stark contrast to their ugly offensive outing against Denver on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, all their hard work disappeared in a rapid Jazz surge, the likes of which the Warriors usually inflict to their opponents. In a seven minute span to start the third, Utah went on a 28-10 run to take a four point lead. To compound issues, the Dubs were clearly frustrated by some referee calls, culminating in technical fouls to Steve Kerr and Andre Iguodala.
The Warriors managed to quell the wave of momentum, without really make in roads themselves. Although Golden State had cut the lead to two in the closing moments of the third, a Jordan Clarkson three put the icing on Utah’s 41 point third quarter cake.
That three magnified when Mike Conley nailed a three on the first possession of the fourth, extending the Jazz lead to eight. But the Warriors, even with Stephen Curry off the floor, managed to steady themselves.
By the time the two-time MVP re-entered with 7:23 remaining, Golden State had narrowed the margin to two. The sides traded baskets over the next few minutes, culminating in a tie ballgame at 111 apiece with two minutes remaining.
That’s when Curry, who’d had a solid but unspectacular showing to that point, lit the fuse on a Warriors win. He firstly hit a mid range jumper to regain the lead, before stretching the lead to five with an absurd three over two helpless Jazz defenders.
Andre Iguodala, who was superb with 12 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, applied the finishing touch with a clutch three over Rudy Gobert.