Defense keys Jazz’s win over Warriors

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Playing strong defense has typically proven to be a winning formula for Utah. Getting to that point has taken more turns and detours than the Jazz anticipated this season.

Beating the defending NBA champions offers evidence that Utah is finally finding the defensive form the team and its fans took for granted at the end of last season.

Joe Ingles scored 20 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points, 15 rebounds, and matched his season-high with four blocked shots to lead the Jazz to a 108-103 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Utah held Golden State to 40 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from the perimeter. The biggest stops came in the final two minutes when the Warriors missed three out of four shot attempts – including a pair of 3-pointers that could have forced overtime.

Jae Crowder added 18 points and 11 rebounds while Donovan Mitchell had 15 points on 5-of-26 shooting as Utah won its fourth straight home game.

Stephen Curry scored 32 points and Kevin Durant added 30 in just the Warriors’ second loss in eight games.

In other NBA games, Charlotte beat Cleveland, 110-99; San Antonio clobbered Orlando, 129-90; Philadelphia routed New York, 131-109; Phoenix stunned Boston, 111-103; Toronto edged Indiana, 99-96; Brooklyn defeated Chicago, 96-93; Houston ripped Washington, 136-118; Milwaukee downed New Orleans, 123-115; Detroit trounced Minnesota, 129-123; Portland outlasted Memphis, 99-92; and Oklahoma City cruised past Sacramento, 132-113.