Fontecchio lifts Jazz past Warriors in short-handed matchup

Updated Dec. 7, 2022 11:59 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Simone Fontecchio dunked with 1.4 seconds remaining off Nickeil Alexander-Walker's steal and the Utah Jazz beat the Golden State Warriors 124-123 on Wednesday night in a matchup of short-handed teams.

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins sat out for Golden State, while Utah was missing Lauri Markkanen and Mike Conley. Curry skipped the game because of soreness in his left ankle, Green has tightness in his left hip and Andrew Wiggins has a strained right adductor. For Utah, Markkanen was ill and Conley has an injured left knee.

Fontecchio finished with a career-high 18 points. A rookie from Italy who will be 27 on Friday, he made four 3-pointers.

Jordan Poole tied a season high with 36 points for Golden State and Jonathan Kuminga had a season-high 24.

Poole made a free throw with 13.3 seconds left to put the Warriors up 113-109.

But Malik Beasley, who had 18 points for Utah, made a 3-pointer with 7.8 seconds to play. Alexander-Walker then slapped the ball away from Poole, Beasley picked up the loose ball and threw it ahead to Fontecchio sprinting to the basket.

With Golden State leading 121-119, Kuminga blocked Jordan Clarkson’s jumper in the lane with 24.9 seconds remaining and then tangled with the Utah guard in the resulting scrum. The players went after each other, but were quickly separated by officials and teammates.

Clarkson was whistled for a loose ball foul before an official review determined he committed a Flagrant 2 foul. Clarkson ripped off his headband in disgust and exited the court.

Kuminga and Malik Beasley were assessed technical fouls and Kuminga made one of two from the line.

Klay Thompson had 22 points for the Warriors.

Walker Kessler, another first-year player, got his first career start with the Jazz and had 10 points, 12 rebounds and a career-best five blocks.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Poole made his first 11 free throws before splitting his final two attempts. … Golden State scored 20 points off 17 Utah turnovers. … Thompson went 8 for 25.

Jazz: Rudy Gay returned after missing 11 games with a sprained left hand. … Clarkson had nine assists. … The Jazz shot 53.5% from the field.

UP NEXT

Warriors: Host Boston on Saturday night.

Jazz: Host Rudy Gobert and Minnesota on Friday night.

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