Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Utah Jazz was played on Saturday night. It was a sellout crowd of 20,000 Jazz fans at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. Golden State came into Saturday's game having won six straight games this postseason. They wanted to take a comanding 3-0 series lead with a win in Game 3 as they look to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the third straight time. Utah on the other hand was hoping they can win their first home-game of the series and make things difficult for the Warriors.
The Jazz were without the services of their starting point guard George Hill in this one. Hill missed his second consecutive game with a big toe injury and Shelvin Mack started in his place on Saturday night. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr did not travel with the team as he continues to deal with back issues.
Big fourth quarter lifts the Warriors to a 102-91 victory
Both sides struggled to score from the opening tip as the first basket came just under two minutes into the game when Stephen Curry scored. Midway through the first period the score was tied at 10-10 before the Warriors went on a 17-7 run to close the quarter. It was 27-17 for the away team after the first 12 minutes of the game.
Utah responded with a great second quarter of they own as they outscored Golden State 33-22 in the period and held a 50-49 lead at halftime. Kevin Durant scored 22 points in the first half for the Warriors. Early in the third quarter the Jazz had their biggest lead of the series so far at 62-53 but they could not pull away.
Warriors came back and held a 72-70 lead heading into the final quarter. They outscored Utah 30-21 in the fourth quarter and ended up with a 102-91 win. Golden State outrebounded the Jazz 51-42 and they held them to 39% shooting including 7-for-22 from behind the arc. Utah was 24-for-34 from the free-throw line.
Kevin Durant leads the way with 38 points
Kevin Durant led all scorers in Game 3. He finished with 38 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Durant was efficient as he shot 15-for-26 from the field including 4-for-8 from the three-point line. He became the first Warriors player with at least 25 points and 10 boards in consecutive playoff games since Nate Thurmond did it in 1975. Stephen Curry added 23 points and four assists while Andre Iguodala scored 11 points off the bench.
Gordon Hayward led the Jazz in scoring with 29 points and he added six assists as well. Rudy Gobert contributed with 21 points and 15 rebounds while Joe Ingles added 10 points for Utah. All five Utah starters scored in double-digits but it wasn't enough.
Golden State now leads the series 3-0 with Game 4 scheduled for Monday night in Utah.
