Golden State star Stephen Curry on Saturday scored 20 of his 31 points in a dazzling third quarter to propel the Warriors to a 123-114 victory over the Utah Jazz.
Curry, back after missing a game with a sprained left ankle, had just nine points in a first half that saw the Warriors trailing 65-58 at the break, but he exploded in the third period, when Golden State outscored Utah 42-31 to take control, never trailing in the final frame.
“We played great defense for most of that quarter, which gave us some transition opportunities, too, and I was able to get out and run,” Curry said. “Thankfully shots went in and gave us a lot of momentum.”
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Curry made six of 12 three-point attempts and handed out five assists with one steal.
Jimmy Butler, back after missing one game because of illness, and Quinten Post added 15 points apiece for the Warriors, who on Friday had been blown out on their home floor by the Oklahoma City Thunder with Curry, Butler and Draymond Green all sidelined.
Green also returned to action, but was ejected minutes into the second quarter when he received two quick technical fouls for arguing with officials.
Green apparently thought there should have been a three-second call and was ejected with two minutes, 25 seconds left in the second quarter. He was tossed for the second time in his past four home games.
“We won the game, that’s all we care about, that’s all he cares about,” Stephen Curry said. “I know he’d rather be out there. I don’t know what he said to the ref, but I didn’t think it was ... the consensus in the locker room was it wasn’t enough to get thrown out.”
Green has nine technicals this season, and would receive an automatic one-game suspension upon reaching 16. He had eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes of action.
Kerr said he did not hear what Green said, but called the ejection “a quick one,” saying it seemed official Kevin Cutler quickly decided to toss Green.
“I assume it was something that Kevin just wasn’t going to listen to,” Kerr said.
The Warriors need Green to be smart with his emotions, Kerr said.
“We need Draymond and I want him out there. I think he might be up to about nine techs,” he said. “We’re not halfway through the season yet, so long way to go. We need him.”
Boston forward Jaylen Brown had a big night, scoring 50 points as the Celtics halted the Clippers’ six-game winning streak with a 146-115 victory in Los Angeles.
Brown connected on 18 of 26 shots, including six of 10 from three-point range, and was backed up by 29 points from Derrick White in the wire-to-wire victory.
“Tonight [was] just one of those special nights where the ball just felt like every shot was going in,” Brown said.
“I’m happy we got the win,” he added after a victory that capped a 4-1 road trip. “I’m ready to go home.”
Kawhi Leonard and John Collins led the Clippers with 22 points each.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the New York Knicks 130-119, pushing their winning streak to three games, while the Minnesota Timberwolves put out the Miami Heat 125-115.
The Toronto Raptors mauled the Atlanta Hawks 134-117, the Charlotte Hornets stung the Chicago Bulls 112-99, the Portland Trail Blazers outplayed the short-handed San Antonio Spurs 115-110 and the Dallas Mavericks shot down the Houston Rockets 110-104.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with AP
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