Golden State Warriors 116 Utah Jazz 105 Game Recap: Warriors win initiative, game, in dominant third quarter

The Utah Jazz were up by one point after the first quarter, and were tied at halftime 53-53. So what went right in the first half for the Utah Jazz against the Golden State Warriors? Well, the Jazz were still turning the ball over, surrendering transition buckets, and occasionally getting lost on defense -- but the Jazz of the first half were fighting, getting rebounds, playing team defense, and making shots. No Trevor Booker meant a shorter rotation inside, and Quin Snyder used his size -- and at times it appeared like the Warriors had no answer for Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Rudy Gobert.

It looked like Steve Kerr was at a disadvantage.

Then the third quarter started and the Warriors just continued to bomb from outside. Golden State's defense turned it up a notch and they played their game, finding and creating open shots for one another and they scored 20 points within the first 4 minutes of the 3rd. They did not let up at all, and even had a quarter finishing three pointer at the buzzer. So after half the two teams were tied 53-53.

And after three the score was 97-80 in favor of the Dubs. Yeah, they won the third 44-27.

The forth quarter wasn't easier. And it was 12 minutes of garbage time where our squad tried to make the final margin a little more palatable. Still, though, the final score was 116 to 105, in favor of the team that has made the playoffs 3 times in the last 20 seasons. (GSW) Be happy for them, they are usually horrible laughingstocks that never advance in the playoffs, or even make them. A 30-5 start is amazing, so hats off to them. They have a great offense and a great defense.

Jazz player stats:

• Trey Burke: 15 points, 1 three, 50 fg%, 5 assists, 2 turn overs, 1 steal
  
• Joe Ingles: 12 points, 2 threes, 2 steals, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
  
• Gordon Hayward: 17 points, 5/11 shooting, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks
  
• Enes Kanter: 13 points, 1 three, 10 rebounds, 1 steal
  
• Derrick Favors: 22 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block
  
• Dante Exum: 2 assists, 1 turn over
  
• Ian Clark: 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 three, bad everything else
• Elliot Williams: +4 in +/-
• Elijah Millsap 7 points, 1 three, 1 rebound
• Jeremy Evans: 1 rebound
• Rudy Gobert: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, +6 in +/- (lead team)

The good news is that the Jazz have a few more nights off to prepare for the Los Angeles Lakers at home, on Friday.

GO Jazz GO!