TIPPING POINT
Jerebko is hero against former team with tip-in basket in last second
SALT LAKE CITY >> Most NBA teams look at the Warriors roster and figure it is impossible to beat them. The Utah Jazz is not one of those teams.
The Jazz, which beat the Warriors three times last season, almost did it again Friday night.
That it didn’t happen was the work of many people, including Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. But the hero of the night was Jonas Jerebko, the former Jazz player in his first game against his old team, tipped in a shot with 0.3 seconds remaining to give the Warriors a 124-123 victory.
The Jazz didnt merely beat the Warriors three times, they beat them badly. There was a 30-point blowout at the end of January, then a 19-point loss at Oracle and then the capper — a 40-point drubbing in the season
finale, their worst defeat since Steve Kerr became coach in 2015.
“I’m hoping we cut it to 20 this year,” Kerr joked before Friday night’s game.
The Jazz went right back at it, scoring a franchise record 81 points in the first half and leading the Warriors by as many as 16 points in the third quarter.
But with Durant scoring 38 and Curry scoring 31, the Warriors rallied and turned the final 14 minutes into a wild back and forth that Jerebko ultimately decided.
Even with the Warriors boasting Durant, Curry and Klay Thompson, the Jazz were outperforming the Warriors early from 3-point range. While Utah shot 11 of 24 from 3-point range, the War-
riors went 5 of 11. Durant had 24 points, but took most of his shots inside the perimeter (9 of 13). Curry and Thompson combined for 17 points, and only went a combined 1 of 5 from beyond the arc.
It did not help that the Warriors sent the Jazz often to the free-throw line. Utah went 20 of 23 from the foul line, while the Warriors went 10 of 12. In the first quarter alone, the Warriors had 11 fouls that resulted in Utah having 17 free-throw attempts. Durant fouled Jazz Alec Burks after closing out on his 3-point attempt at the end of the first quarter.
So much for the Warriors vowing to show more discipline than they did during the 2017-18 season.
“The first 20 games are really kind of about establishing our identity, different second unit and different combinations,” Kerr said. “We’re trying to find our groove and rhythm early in the season. To do it on the road against Utah is a good test.”
In the first half, the Warriors flunked that test. DAMIAN JONES STRUGGLES IN HIS SECOND START >> Kerr has said he will start Jones
until further notice. So while the Warriors wait patiently for DeMarcus Cousins’ return, the Warriors might see Jones showing both potential and growing pains.
Jones logged only eight first-half minutes after picking up three fouls. The Warriors have liked Jones’ post presence, but they believe he closes out without much discipline and does not adopt the verticality rule with consistency. Hence, the early whistles. DRAYMOND GREEN IS
ROUNDING INTO FORM >> The Warriors’ All-Star forward made progress in easing concerns about his conditioning stemmed from a three-game absence in preseason play because of a sore left knee.
Beyond fulfilling the usual effort on defense and playmaking, Green started at center in the second quarter. That shows both the Warriors’ increased comfort in Green’s progress as well as Jordan Bell’s demotion in the depth chart.
Green also showed his chippiness. In the third quarter, Green picked up a personal foul and double technical with Utah forward Derrick Favors. Green pushed Utah center Rudy Gobert after the two tangled up. Gobert pushed back before officials and teammates intervened.
Then, Favors snuck in a push.
THE WARRIORS ARE BEING
CAREFUL WITH ANDRE IGUODALA >> It is only the second game of the regular season, and Iguodala is already missing a game because of tightness in his left calf. Iguodala, 34, participated in morning shootaround and told Kerr that he felt better. But the Warriors are mindful Iguodala missed a combined 15 games last season and six playoff games because of various ailments.
Still, Kerr predicted the Iguodala would play on Sunday in Denver.
“If this were a playoff game, he would play,” Kerr said. “But we’re just going to be very cautious.”
Because of Iguodala’s absence, the Warriors put Damion Lee on the active roster. He began practicing on Monday after missing most of training camp because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
JONAS JEREBKO TURNS A CORNER >> The Warriors’ new forward felt at home.
After playing with Utah for one season, Jazz fans gave Jerebko a round of applause when he entered the game with 5:03 left in the first quarter. After having hiccups through training camp and the season opener, Jerebko then showed what made the Jazz
value him before waiving him for cost-cutting reasons. He finished the half with eight points on 3-of-3 shooting, including 2 of 2 from 3-point range.