Stephen Curry poured in 31 points and Buddy Hield added 20 off the bench as the Golden State Warriors turned a competitive halftime lead into a second-half demolition, defeating the Utah Jazz 134-117.
For the Jazz, Keyonte George’s 28 points and Alvin Bailey’s 21 weren’t nearly enough to keep pace once Golden State shifted into that familiar gear that separates contenders from rebuilding projects.
The first half told a different story. The Warriors led 67-55 at the break, but it felt closer than the scoreboard suggested. George was cooking, going nuclear with 21 first-half points on blistering shooting, looking every bit like a future star making his case on a losing team. The kid has legitimate talent, the kind that shows up in box scores even when his team is getting boat-raced. In the first half Curry struggled from deep early, going just 2-8 from three in the opening 24 minutes, but Jimmy Butler kept things steady with 13 points on efficient 6-8 shooting in his Chase Center debut wearing the cream-colored Town threads. Moses Moody chipped in 10 points, continuing his developmental arc.
The Warriors shot 49% from the field but only 35% from three in that first half, the kind of numbers that suggest they were getting quality looks without the bottom falling out. Utah hung around at 43% from both the field and three-point range, staying within striking distance purely on George’s brilliance and the Warriors’ uncharacteristic struggles from distance.
Then the second half happened, and the Warriors remembered who they were. Curry found his stroke, finishing 6-17 from three for the game. Hield got scorching hot off the bench, going 4-8 from deep and providing exactly the kind of instant offense championship teams need from their second unit. The offense found its rhythm, generating 34 assists on 51 made buckets, the kind of ball movement that makes defensive schemes look like suggestions rather than strategies.
Golden State shot 50% for the game and 37% from three while holding Utah to 47% and 31% respectively. The Warriors dominated the paint 56-66, controlled the glass 49-47, and turned 14 Utah turnovers into 16 points. Gary Payton II orchestrated with 8 assists, because apparently this team can generate elite playmaking from anyone in the rotation.
Here’s the subplot everyone wanted to discuss: Lauri Markkanen, the player half the fanbase wanted the Warriors to trade for, finished with 17 points on 6-19 shooting. Even without Draymond Green, Golden State handled him by playing team basketball and making individual talent look insufficient.
The Town jerseys are back and the Warriors are above .500. Some things don’t require roster upheaval to understand.
