OAKLAND – The Warriors couldn’t quite crank their offense into overdrive Tuesday night. They didn’t have to. Not when their defense was shutting off most everything the Utah Jazz tried to do.
Holding Utah’s starting lineup to 25 points and the team to 35.5-percent shooting from the field, the Warriors silenced the Jazz 104-74 before a sellout crowd (19,596) at Oracle Arena.
Four players scored in double figures for the Warriors (25-4), with Stephen Curry dropping in 25 points to lead the way. Kevin Durant tossed in 22, Klay Thompson 17 and Draymond Green 15.
The Warriors, who average a league-best 31.5 assists per game, managed only 24 as Utah did a solid job of jamming the offense. The Warriors shot only 44.4 percent but forced 23 Utah turnovers, off which they scored 27 points.
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Veteran wing Joe Johnson led Utah scorers, with 14 points. Utah is 7-2 since Dec. 1, and both losses were to the Warriors.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
On a night when defense made the loudest statements, it has to be Green.
Green’s line: 15 points (6-of-11 shooting, 2-of-5 from deep, 1-of-2 from the line), team-high 11 rebounds, five steals and four assists. He played 31 minutes and was plus-32.
TURNING POINT:
When the Jazz closed to within five (30-25) on a Rudy Gobert floater with 6:19 left in the second quarter, the Warriors responded with a 25-6 run to go up 55-31 on a Curry 3-pointer with 27.5 seconds remaining in the half.
Utah never got closer than 18 in the second half.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors: G Ian Clark took a spill in the fourth quarter, and returned briefly before going into the locker room. No injuries were listed pregame James Michael McAdoo was a healthy inactive.
Jazz: F Derrick Favors (knee/rest), G George Hill (L toe sprain) and G Alec Burks (L ankle rehab) were listed as out.
ROSTER NOTE:
C Damian Jones is an assignment with the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors.
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Warriors leave Wednesday for a three-game road trip that begins Thursday against the Nets in Brooklyn. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Barclays Center.
