Jordan Poole has 26 points, Warriors rally past Jazz

Updated Dec. 29, 2022 12:42 a.m. ET

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jordan Poole scored 26 points and converted a key layup with 1:27 left and the undermanned Golden State Warriors rallied to beat the Utah Jazz 112-107 on Wednesday night.

Ty Jerome hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5:18 to play after his own steal, then made a key rebound to help set up Donte DiVincenzo’s 3 the next time down as Golden State got another big performance from the backups.

DiVincenzo scored 19 points and Jerome 17 with the Warriors completing a back-to-back minus starters Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins. Poole tied it at 94 on a 3 with 11:03 left.

Lauri Markkanen scored 29 points and had seven 3-pointers and a season-best 16 rebounds for the Jazz. Jordan Clarkson's 3 with 1:37 left made it a one-point game before Poole delivered moments later.

Markkanen found his early shooting stroke from long range and also scored with driving layups, making 10 of 22 shots. Clarkson added 22 points. while Mike Conley had 10 assists.

Warriors rookie Patrick Baldwin Jr. contributed 11 points with three 3s in 13 minutes off the bench.

DiVincenzo had been questionable with right knee soreness as well as Green with him nursing a tender right foot.

Kelly Olynyk returned from a four-game absence with a sprained left ankle to get nine points and six rebounds in 26 minutes for Utah, which squandered a second-half lead for the second straight game. The Jazz were up 121-110 in the waning minutes of a 126-122 loss at San Antonio on Monday night.

Green wound up with six points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Warriors, who at 15-2 have the league's best home record and are just trying to establish that same consistency away from Chase Center.

BACK-TO-BACKS FOR THOMPSON

While Klay Thompson has yet to play on consecutive days this season, it's still under discussion as the year mark of his return from a more than 2 1/2-year absence recovering from two serious injuries approaches Jan. 9.

Thompson went through his own workout with the training staff and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini told coach Steve Kerr “there is no science to this.”

“There is no target date for him to play a back-to-back, it’s more based on how Klay is feeling and where he is physically and mentally,” Kerr said. "There may come a time this season when he does play a back-to-back, but we’re not there yet.”

TIP-INS

Jazz: The Jazz hit seven 3s in the first quarter, four by Markkanen. ... Utah is 7-13 on the road, 5-9 vs. the Western Conference. The Jazz have lost six straight on the Warriors' floor dating to a 129-96 victory on Jan. 22, 2020. ... The Jazz were edged on the boards 51-50.

Warriors: Green played in his 717th career regular-season game to pass Jeff Mullins for fourth place on the franchise games list. ... Poole has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games and is averaging 27.5 points in the 10 games Curry has missed and led the team in scoring in eight. ... All-Star Andrew Wiggins returned to the arena wearing a mask a day after being away with an illness. He had been scheduled to return to action Wednesday night from being sidelined by a strained muscle in his right thigh area but instead missed his 12th straight game. “He's better,” Kerr said.

UP NEXT

Jazz: At Sacramento on Friday night.

Warriors: Host Portand on Friday night.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports