Warriors on target from distance, end four-game trip with rout of Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY – The Golden State Warriors are heading home victoriously after their best half of 3-point shooting this season and a 19-point half from Stephen Curry.

The Warriors made 15 first-half threes and rode Curry's stellar second half to a 140-124 victory over the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Curry finished with 27 points after an eight-point first half on 2-of-7 shooting, following in the second half with 5-of-7 shooting and 7-of-8 free-throw shooting.

Moses Moody added 26 points (9-of-15 shooting, 5-of-9 from 3-point range) and Golden State rode eight double-figure scorers for 53.5% shooting, 23-of-54 3-point shooting and 38 assists for 42 baskets. 

Utah star forward Lauri Markkanen had 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting while Bryce Sensabaugh scored a team-high 22 points. 

The Warriors (27-22) made 15 first-half threes – a season high for any half – on their way to a 68-55 lead: three apiece from Moody and Hield (during an 11-point, four-minute, second-quarter furry), two from Curry, Melton and Quinten Post and one from Al Horford, Brandin Podziemski and Will Richard.

Sharp ball and player movement opened jumpers and active defense forced 11 turnovers in the opening half. Keyonte George attacked for 12 first-half points to keep the Jazz within striking distance, but Markkanen was hounded off the bounce or in the paint en route to 2-of-8 shooting.

Curry widened Golden State's lead to 22 with a 12-point third-quarter burst via two cutting layups, a pullup three, three free throws from a 3-point shooting foul and two free throws from a foul on a drive. A 99-82 advantage was cut with an 11-2 quarter-closing run from the Jazz (15-33), who started it with a triple from George (19 points) and capped with Isaiah Collier's buzzer-beating fastbreak layup.

Richard and Moody started the fourth quarter with back-to-back triples to restore Golden State's double-figure lead. 

The Warriors next play Friday against the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons at Chase Center.

This article originally published at Warriors on target from distance, end four-game trip with rout of Jazz.