The Golden State Warriors had a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter but could not hold off the hot-shooting Utah Jazz as they fell 128-131 in a frustrating loss. Eddie Bitar Updated: 1 hour ago Original: 1 hour ago Jimmy Butler Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors Archive Utah Jazz Archive Draymond Green Brandin Podziemski Start Conversation
Stephen Curry’s 32 points and seven assists weren’t enough to save the Golden State Warriors from a late collapse in a 131-128 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. Brandin Podziemski shined with a career-high 29 points, and Buddy Hield added 18, but the Warriors couldn’t hold onto a double-digit lead in the final minutes despite their offensive firepower.
Playing with a shortened rotation after acquiring Jimmy Butler earlier in the day, Golden State seemed poised for victory after an 11-0 run — fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Curry and Hield — gave them a 120-110 lead with 3:30 remaining.
Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:04 / 0:09 Full screen Luka Doncic Jokes About JJ Redick; Rob Pelinka Thrilled To Build Around Franchise Point GuardLuka Doncic Jokes About JJ Redick; Rob Pelinka Thrilled To Build Around Franchise Point Guard Read More
However, the Jazz stormed back, scoring on 10 straight possessions in the final three minutes. Jordan Clarkson’s pair of clutch 3-pointers and Keyonte George’s go-ahead triple with 27 seconds left capped the comeback for Utah. Clarkson finished with 31 points, while George added 26, and Walker Kessler contributed a dominant 15 points and 18 rebounds.
The Warriors’ loss overshadowed Podziemski’s impressive performance, marking his third 20-point game of the season — two of which have come against the Jazz, against whom he’s averaging 21.3 points. Golden State now faces questions about defensive consistency as they work to integrate Butler into the lineup, but we will have to wait and see how it plays out. Let\’s grade each Warriors player for his performance on Wednesday night.
Brandin Podziemski: A
Stats: 29 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 8-18 FG, 3-10 3PT, 10-13 FT, -3, 40 MIN
Podziemski was the Warriors’ standout performer, notching a career-high 29 points in a gutsy 40-minute effort. He showed his versatility, contributing six rebounds and four assists while shooting an impressive 10-for-13 from the free-throw line. Although his 3-point shooting was off (3-for-10), he remained aggressive and impactful on offense, especially during key stretches. His ability to attack the rim and handle pressure solidified his growing role in the rotation.
Stephen Curry: B+
Stats: 32 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 7 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 12-31 FG, 6-18 3PT, 2-2 FT, -21, 35 MIN
Curry’s 32 points and seven assists highlighted his ability to carry the offensive load, but his inefficiency (12-for-31 from the field and 6-for-18 from deep) and -21 plus/minus reflected a tough night overall. While he delivered in clutch moments with a pair of late 3-pointers, his struggles in the fourth quarter mirrored the Warriors’ inability to close out the game. Curry remains the driving force behind the team’s offense despite the loss.
Buddy Hield: B
Stats: 18 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 7-14 FG, 4-8 3PT, 0-0 FT, -12, 31 MIN
Hield provided reliable perimeter shooting, scoring 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. His offensive contributions were crucial during the Warriors’ 11-0 run late in the game, but his defensive lapses and inability to impact the game outside of scoring limited his overall grade. Still, his spacing and timely shooting were vital to the Warriors’ offensive flow.
Draymond Green: B-
Stats: 7 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 9 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 3-4 FT, -13, 34 MIN
Draymond Green had a mixed outing, tallying seven points, four rebounds, and nine assists while showcasing his trademark defensive hustle with two steals. However, his three turnovers and poor shooting night (2-for-7 from the field and 0-for-4 from three) detracted from his overall performance. While his leadership and playmaking were evident, Green couldn’t quite stabilize the team during Utah’s late-game run.
Quinten Post: C+
Stats: 10 PTS, 7 REB (3 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 5-9 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 25 MIN
Post brought energy and effort off the bench, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds. He was particularly active on the offensive glass, grabbing three boards to create second-chance opportunities. While his scoring was efficient (5-for-9), his lack of a perimeter shot and limited defensive impact held him back from making a bigger mark in the game.
Gary Payton II: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 6 PF, 4-6 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 14 MIN
Payton made the most of his 14 minutes, scoring nine points on an efficient 4-for-6 from the field. His defensive energy and ability to finish in transition were assets, but six personal fouls in such limited playing time hurt his team. Despite the foul trouble, Payton’s +4 plus/minus reflected his ability to positively influence the game during his brief stints on the court.
Kevon Looney: C+
Stats: 6 PTS, 10 REB (7 OREB, 3 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, +6, 23 MIN
Looney anchored the paint, grabbing 10 rebounds (seven offensive) while adding six points and three assists. His hustle on the boards was instrumental in creating extra possessions, but his limited offensive repertoire and inability to stretch the floor capped his impact. Looney’s +6 plus/minus reflected his steady presence, even if his contributions were largely unflashy.
Pat Spencer: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 3-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, +5, 14 MIN
Spencer provided a solid all-around effort off the bench, finishing with seven points, four rebounds, and four assists. While his efficiency (3-for-6 shooting) was commendable, his four fouls in just 14 minutes highlighted some defensive issues. Nevertheless, his ability to keep the ball moving and make the right plays gave the Warriors a boost during his minutes.
Jackson Rowe: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-3 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-2 FT, +17, 14 MIN
Rowe chipped in six points and five rebounds in 14 minutes, showcasing his 3-point touch by hitting both of his attempts from deep. Despite his limited offensive role, his +17 plus/minus reflected his strong effort on both ends. However, missed free throws (0-for-2) and a lack of playmaking outside of scoring slightly diminished his impact.
Gui Santos: C
Stats: 4 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, +11, 11 MIN
Santos saw limited action but contributed four points in 11 minutes, including a 3-pointer and a made free throw. His efficiency (1-for-1 from the field) was perfect, but his lack of involvement in other areas like rebounding, playmaking, or defense left his impact minimal. His +11 plus/minus suggests he fit well with the bench unit, even in a small role.
Leave a Reply