Warriors cruise to Game 1 win over Jazz
Warriors cruise to Game 1 win over Jazz, More than unprecedented range, what makes Stephen Curry a generational player is his penchant for making elite players look silly with a dribble.
Warriors cruise to Game 1 win over Jazz, More than unprecedented range, what makes Stephen Curry a generational player is his penchant for making elite players look silly with a dribble.
BOX SCORE: WARRIORS 106, JAZZ 94
The latest example came late in the second quarter of the Warriors’ 106-94 win Tuesdsay night over Utah in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. After threading the ball between his legs, Curry stepped to his left and, on a crossover, sent center Rudy Gobert into a spin. By the time the Defensive Player of the Year candidate regained his footing, Curry was knifing through the key for his signature up-and-under layup.
It was just one of the chuckle-inducing highlights Golden State delivered on a night it reinforced why it is the prohibitive NBA title favorite. With Curry operating at max efficiency, his big-name supporting cast took advantage of open driving lanes. The Warriors shot 48.8 percent from the field, including 33-for-53 on two-pointers, as they continued to raise an important question: When will they face a significant playoff test?
“We picked up right where we left off,” Curry said. “Our defense just really gave us an opportunity to find a flow. That’s what you need in the playoffs to really get into a rhythm.”
With its typically stingy defense faltering, Utah fell behind 9-0 after four minutes and failed to lead or tie the game at any point. Gordon Hayward, its All-Star small forward, missed 11 of his 15 shot attempts. Known mostly for his shot-blocking ability, Gobert led the Jazz in scoring with only 13 points.
After an uneven first round by his standards, Curry returned to his stupefying ways. He needed only 11 shots and 30 minutes to pour in a game-high 22 points. Klay Thompson (15 points), Draymond Green (17 points, eight rebounds, six assists), Kevin Durant (17 points) and even Zaza Pachulia (10 points in 14 minutes) were worthy complements.
After shouldering a heavy load in the first round, the Warriors’ bench didn’t need to do much until mop-up duty. It was the kind of pummeling that Golden State’s front office envisioned when it signed Durant in July. With a starting lineup boasting four All-Stars, it can embarrass decent opponents on even subpar nights. A Warriors team thriving on offense and defense is nearly unstoppable.
“It’s just our guys buying in, trying to do the right thing, and most importantly, keeping the game simple,” said acting head coach Mike Brown, whose Golden State squad tied a franchise record for fewest turnovers in a playoff game with seven. “We can score in bunches if we just make the simple play, keep the ball moving, keep bodies moving. That's what our guys did a lot of tonight.”
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| Warriors cruise to Game 1 win over Jazz |
After sweeping Portland in the first round, Golden State had a seven-day break before facing the Jazz. The question was whether such an extended hiatus, though beneficial to players nursing minor injuries, could leave the Warriors stale.
Unlike the Trail Blazers, who let early struggles snowball into a lopsided defeat in Game 4, the Jazz spread the ball, attacked the paint and hung within striking distance. Ultimately, Utah’s biggest strength — interior defense — failed it Tuesday. Golden State forced 14 turnovers and piled up 29 fast-break points. Though the Warriors finished 7-for-29 beyond the arc, they scored 44 points in the paint.
“Give them credit,” Utah head coach Quin Snyder said. “They’re a terrific defensive team, and we’ve got to be better offensively to attack them.”
Midway through the fourth quarter, with Golden State up 101-84, reserve forward Matt Barnes checked into the game to an almost deafening roar. Fans recognized the significance of the moment: On a night when Barnes’ 2006-07 “We Believe” team was honored, he was part of the Warriors’ current championship pursuit, bridging the distance between the past five playoff seasons and the last time the Warriors made any noise in the postseason.
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron
Jazz vs. Warriors
Western Conference semifinals
Warriors lead series 1-0.
Game 1: Warriors 106, Jazz 94
Thursday: at Oracle Arena,
7:30 p.m. ESPN
Saturday: at Utah, 5:30 p.m. Channel: 7Channel: 10
Monday: at Utah, 6 p.m. TNT
May 10: at Oracle Arena* TNT
May 12: at Utah* ESPN
May 14: at Oracle Arena* TBA
