-
-
-
-
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
-
-
-
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
-
-
-
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
-
-
-
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
-
-
window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-c',
container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-22',
placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 22',
target_type: 'mix'
});
_taboola.push({flush: true});
Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell (2) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha, left, and guard Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
lessGolden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell (2) shoots against Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha, left, and guard Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday,
... more
Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell, right, chases a loose ball next to Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Golden State Warriors forward Jordan Bell, right, chases a loose ball next to Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks against the Utah Jazz during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP
Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry watches from the bench during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry watches from the bench during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is defended by Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is defended by Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017.
Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP
The Warriors high five after a scoring play for Shaun Livingston (34) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
The Warriors high five after a scoring play for Shaun Livingston (34) in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Six Golden State players, including Kevin Durant (35) and Omri Casspi (18), put up double digits against the Jazz. Durant led the Warriors with 21 points.
Six Golden State players, including Kevin Durant (35) and Omri Casspi (18), put up double digits against the Jazz. Durant led the Warriors with 21 points.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
The Warriors’ Patrick McCaw (0) dunks in the second half.
The Warriors’ Patrick McCaw (0) dunks in the second half.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Head coach Steve Kerr laughs on the bench in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Head coach Steve Kerr laughs on the bench in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
JaVale McGee (1) puts in a layup in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
JaVale McGee (1) puts in a layup in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
JaVale McGee (1) high fives Nick Young (6) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
JaVale McGee (1) high fives Nick Young (6) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
The Warriors high five during a break in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
The Warriors high five during a break in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Jordan Bell (2) and Kevind Durant (35) collide while defending against a shot by Alec Burks (10) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
lessJordan Bell (2) and Kevind Durant (35) collide while defending against a shot by Alec Burks (10) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on
... more
Omri Casspi (18) shoots over Donovan Mitchell (45) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Omri Casspi (18) shoots over Donovan Mitchell (45) in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Jordan Bell (2) dunks in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Jordan Bell (2) dunks in the second half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Kevin Durant (35) shoots over the Jazz in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Kevin Durant (35) shoots over the Jazz in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Stephen Curry (30) checks on a fan who was hit by a loose ball in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Stephen Curry (30) checks on a fan who was hit by a loose ball in the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Utah Jazz at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle
Warriors ride big 3rd quarter to rout of Jazz
Midway through the third quarter Wednesday night, with the Warriors well on their way to a 126-101 rout of the Jazz, a capacity Oracle Arena crowd of 19,596 roared as a familiar face appeared on the big screen above.
There in a black T-shirt and black blazer was Stephen Curry, whose cheeks turned red as he tried to hide behind two-way player development coach Luke Loucks. It was a welcome sight for a fan base that has waited more than three weeks for the two-time MVP to return from his sprained right ankle.
In the meantime, Curry’s teammates have made sure not to disappoint. Golden State again parlayed a third-quarter blitz into a lopsided win Wednesday. Now, with Curry nearing his return, the Warriors have gone 9-1 in the face of the franchise’s absence.
Along the way, they reinforced their unrivaled depth. Look no further than Wednesday’s box score: Paced by Kevin Durant’s 21 points, six Golden State players scored in double digits.
With a season-high 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting, Patrick McCaw helped power the bench to a season-high 66 points. Draymond Green (14 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) nearly broke the franchise record with his 21st career triple-double.
“We just started playing better” in the third quarter, head coach Steve Kerr said. “The defense in the third quarter was tremendous, and it triggered our offense. I just thought we had better pace and movement.”
A Utah team without center Rudy Gobert (left PCL sprain, bone bruise) hung close for two quarters, only to fall victim to yet another one of Golden State’s signature game-changing runs out of halftime. The Warriors seemed to realize that, with Gobert sidelined, the Jazz are vulnerable inside. Feasting largely on dunks and put-backs, Golden State shot 17-for-23 (73.9 percent) from the field in the third to outscore Utah, 42-20.
It was the fifth time this season the Warriors have poured in at least 20 more points than their opponent in that period. Golden State has outscored teams by a combined 218 points in 35 third quarters, easily the most in the NBA.
“I think that third quarter started off with breakdowns,” Utah guard Rodney Hood said. “Then, it was like plugging holes. We stopped getting back on defense, and the floodgates opened.”
Durant had 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in that period Wednesday. Within a 22-second span late in the third, he knifed through the key for two dunks. Curry was celebrating on the bench during the Jazz’s ensuing timeout when the big-screen camera zoomed in on him.
It was fitting timing, given that Curry has spent much of his absence rejoicing in his fellow former MVP’s dominance. Durant has had at least 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in five of the 10 games Curry has missed. Curry’s absence has also paved the way for role players like Jordan Bell, David West, Nick Young and Omri Casspi to shoulder heavier loads.
In Wednesday’s romp, Young and Casspi chipped in 15 and 10 points, respectively. The game was so rid of suspense that reserve center JaVale McGee, the subject of trade rumblings this week, attempted two three-pointers in garbage time. After air-balling the first attempt, he drained the second.
There on the sideline, giggling and stomping his feet, was Curry. He will scrimmage for the second time Thursday, one of the final steps in his recovery from the sprained ankle. Though he is unlikely to return for Friday’s game against Charlotte, Curry could be back for Saturday’s matchup against Memphis.
“We’re a totally different team as opposed to when Steph is on the court, as far as how we play,” Durant said. “When Steph went out, it was different. We had to play a different tempo, a different pace, use different plays. It was fun just figuring it out.”
Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron
