Warriors bury Jazz with big third quarter

Golden State Warriors forwards Jordan Bell (2), Andre Iguodala (9) and Kevin Durant (35) celebrate during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, California—Even after his Golden State Warriors scored 42 points in the third quarter, coach Steve Kerr was most pleased with their defense.

“I thought the defense in the third quarter was tremendous, triggered our offense,” Kerr said. “There was a different energy in the building in the second half.”

Kevin Durant scored 21 points, Draymond Green flirted with his second straight triple-double and the Warriors used that big third quarter to zoom past the Utah Jazz, 126-101 on Wednesday night for their 13th win in 14 games.

The game was the 10th straight the defending NBA champs played without two-time MVP Stephen Curry, sidelined by a sprained right ankle.

The team redefined itself, Kerr said, and won nine of them.

“I love what we’ve become, morphing into this defensive juggernaut,” he said.
Durant, who blocked three shots and has swatted at least two in 10 straight games, said the team knew life would be different without Curry. But the Warriors held teams to an average of 95.2 points during the stretch.

“Defensively is where we kind of knuckled down because we knew offense was going to be a little tougher,” Durant said.

Durant also said he expects Curry to be back soon. He is scheduled to scrimmage 5-on-5 on Thursday and will be evaluated Friday before the Warriors’ game against Charlotte.

“I see the look in his eyes and I know he’s ready to play,” Durant said.

The game was the first between the teams since the Warriors’ four-game playoff sweep in the Western Conference semifinals last spring, winning each game by double digits.

Green finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in three quarters, two nights after tying the franchise career record with his 20th triple-double. Patrick McCaw added 18 points.

Jazz coach Quin Snyder wasn’t surprised by the way Golden State came out after halftime.

“They’re the best team in the league in the third quarter,” he said. “We didn’t turn it over, but we had some breakdowns. They’re a team, if you make a mistake they’ll make you pay.”

The Warriors’ 42-22 margin in the quarter marked the fifth time this season they have outscored an opponent by at least 20 points in the third period.
Rodney Hood scored 26 for Utah.

The day after the NBA acknowledged four missed calls in the final two minutes of the Warriors-Cavaliers game on Christmas Day, Green called the practice of releasing the two-minute officiating reports “pointless.”

The league acknowledged that game officials missed three fouls on Durant and one on LeBron James. Green was critical of the reports, suggesting, “It makes no sense. Like, LeBron can’t go back and get the play over and get the two free throws. So who does it help?”

Kerr, declining to be drawn into the debate, said he appreciates the league’s transparency, but added, “I haven’t looked it at all year.”