So last night began with the “NightLife” T-shirts for all Jazz fans in attendance. There were hooting and hollering, boos and cheers, mocking and teasing and pushing and shoving aka Great Playoff Basketball.
Tempers flared as Utah hosted the Warriors in their semifinal home opener. Golden State led by as many as 11 before Utah hopped out in front with an aggressive offense in the first half that got them a one-point lead going into the 2nd half. Utah led by as many as 9 into the third but Golden State proved once against why their favorites.
Durant was instrumental and involved in every part of the game. Scoring 22 in the first half and 38 for the game. He carried this team they seemed to get a little careless although not too careless as they only turned the ball over 7 times with none in the 2nd half.
Draymond Green got the games intensity up as the team looked staggered and bored. Green received a tech in the 2nd quarter for yelling at the referee. Which ignited a Stephen Curry catch-and-shoot 3, a Durant screen 3, and Stephen Curry’s three-point foul (which he knocked down all three).
Curry scored 23 on 6-20 shooting from the field and 3-11 from 3. His counterpart didn’t have a successful game either as he only scored six on 1-9 shooting and 0-4 from deep. This was a game for Durant and he showed why he’s a 4x scoring champ.
Hayward was not competition for the 7-foot guard. Pulling up 2 times over his head on a post up; one to the left and one to the right. Speaking of Hayward, he scored 29 on 7-18 shooting. Gobert was instrumental scoring 21 and grabbing 15 boards; just up until Green and Durant got into his head after missing 2 flagrant free throws after his debacle with Durant late in the 4th to try to cut it down to 8.
Durant also got into it with a fan and also told the mascot “gon nah.” Just when you thought Utah was pulling away the Kevin Durant pulled a quiet storm and eased his way to a comeback win. Arguing with a guy on the sideline and the hitting a 2 pointer, a 3, then a shot to avoid a shot clock violation. Where he just shrugged it off like the little emoji. Golden State basically toyed with this team until it was time to win.
The Jazz starting 5 scored in double figures and the Warriors still managed to get a win by double digits. Typical case of big bank take little bank. George Hill (toe) is questionable for game 4 in Utah and Coach Kerr is out indefinitely and for sure won’t return this series. Game 4 tips off Monday at 9 est on TNT.
