Golden State Warriors suffer heartbreaking loss in unbelievabably crazy finish

The Golden State Warriors have fallen in what appeared like an unlosable game in the final seconds, with the Utah Jazz’ Simone Fontecchio winning the game on a dunk with 1.4 seconds to play.

The Warriors had a four-point lead with less than ten seconds to play, a margin that should have been greater if not for two crucial missed free-throws. But after a Malik Beasley triple with 6.9 left, an inbounds pass was stripped from Jordan Poole which ultimately led to the fatal final play.

The Golden State Warriors have suffered a heartbreaking 124-123 loss to the Utah Jazz in a back-and-forth contest at Vivint Arena.

Both teams went into the contest undermanned — Golden State were without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, while Utah were without Lauri Markkanen and Mike Conley.

After a slow start in the opening minutes, the Warriors quickly found their offensive gear in a fast-paced, high-scoring first half. Poole led Golden State to 35 first-quarter points and a five-point lead, before the teams traded buckets in the second.

That period also saw the return of James Wiseman, with the former number two overall pick providing some bright moments with three points, two rebounds and an assist in five minutes of action.

It was Poole though who led the Warriors offense in Curry’s absence, recording 21 points and five assists as he lived at the free-throw line in the first half. That, and a 9-4 offensive rebounding advantage, meant the Warriors held a three-point lead despite Utah’s 54.5% shooting.

The Jazz’ shooting hit a new, even higher level in the third though, drilling seven three-pointers in a major turning point of the game. Golden State produced little of their own offensively outside Klay Thompson who had 11 of the Warriors’ 22 points in the third.

Utah took a nine-point lead to the fourth, and much of the same continued if not for some individual brilliance from Jonathan Kuminga. The second-year forward had a vicious and-one dunk, followed by an equally as physical putback slam from a Thompson missed layup — All of a sudden had a season-high 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting.

A couple of Poole buckets and a Moses Moody triple cut the Jazz’ lead to one, and after the Jazz extended it back to five, the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead for the first time since midway through the third. Jordan Clarkson tied the game on a tough floater with 56 seconds to play, before Kuminga’s clever pump fake and dunk put Golden State back on top.

Those two players then produced what should have been the defining moment of the game. Kuminga was all over Clarkson’s offensive move, blocking his game-tying attempt and snatching the rebound. The Jazz’ veteran didn’t appreciate the embarrassment, mauling Kuminga on what was assessed as a flagrant two foul as the pair threatened a fight.

The last 25 seconds felt like an eternity – Kuminga went 1-for-2 before Thompson had the ball stolen on the inbounds. The veteran made up for it with a block on the other end, before the fatal final 13 seconds that had to be seen to be believed.

There was plenty of good for the Warriors, led by Poole’s 36 and Kuminga’s 24. However, there’s nothing but a hollow feeling for anyone associated with Golden State — they had an opportunity to snatch a win on the road without their three best players, yet found a way to lose it in unfathomable fashion.

The Warriors now have two full days to stew on the loss before a marquee showdown with the Boston Celtics on Saturday — Their 13-13 record now putting the reigning champions back in an extremely precarious position.