Curry scores 31 points after missing one game due to ankle injury, Warriors beat Jazz 123-114

Curry scores 31 points after missing one game due to ankle injury, Warriors beat Jazz 123-114
Curry scores 31 points after missing one game due to ankle injury, Warriors beat Jazz 123-114

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 31 points with six 3-pointers and the Golden State Warriors welcomed back their regulars Saturday to beat the Utah Jazz 123-114 after a 37-point blowout by the shorthanded Thunder a night earlier.

Curry scored 20 points in the third quarter on six of his seven shots, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with 7:01 left in the period and another one the next time.

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Lauri Markkanen was 9 of 12 in the first half for 21 of his 35 points. Keyonte George had 22 points and nine assists for a Jazz team that was without Jusuf Nurkic for the second straight game due to a sprained left toe. Utah has lost three straight and seven of nine.

Curry returned from a one-game absence with a sprained left ankle and Jimmy Butler contributed 15 points and seven assists after an illness kept him out of a 131-94 loss to defending champion Oklahoma City.

Draymond Green also rested Friday, but was ejected again with 2:25 left in the second quarter after consecutive technical fouls for arguing with officials.

Green apparently thought there should have been a 3-second decision and was ejected for the second time in his last four home games.

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Also during this stretch, he left the bench after a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr during a third-quarter timeout on Dec. 22 against Orlando and then went to the locker room alone to calm down. They both later apologized.

Green now has nine technical fouls 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.

The Warriors won’t be happy with 15 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Jazz. Taking care of the ball has been a constant priority.

Next

Jazz: In Portland on Monday night.

Warriors: Visit the Clippers on Monday.

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NBA AP: https://apnews.com/NBA

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