The Golden State Warriors put on a show for their home crowd at the Chase Center on January 3, 2026, overcoming a determined Utah Jazz squad 123-114 in a high-octane NBA clash. For the Jazz, the loss marked their third straight defeat and dropped them to 0-2 to start the new year, while the Warriors improved to 18-17, continuing their push up the Western Conference standings.
Both teams entered Saturday night’s matchup with something to prove. The Warriors were fresh off a lopsided 131-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game where they were missing key stars like Stephen Curry (ankle), Jimmy Butler (illness), Draymond Green (rest), and Jonathan Kuminga (back). Meanwhile, the Jazz were reeling from a 118-101 defeat to the LA Clippers, having played without their own core contributors—Lauri Markkanen (knee), Keyonte George (illness), Jusuf Nurkić (foot), and Ace Bailey (hip). But as tip-off approached in San Francisco, the injury clouds parted: both Markkanen and George were back in the Utah lineup, with Curry also returning for Golden State.
The first quarter set the tone for a night of shifting momentum. Utah came out firing, led by Markkanen and George, who combined for 11 of the Jazz’s first 16 points. The Jazz Twitter feed captured the early energy: “Lauri and Key are back in the lineup, and they have 11 of Utah’s first 16 points.” By the end of the opening frame, Utah held a 29-25 advantage, as Keyonte George and rookie Isaiah Collier combined for 14 points. The Warriors, still finding their rhythm, kept pace thanks to Trayce Jackson-Davis’s hustle on the boards and timely baskets from their supporting cast.
The second quarter saw Utah’s young guns continue to impress. Cody Williams, showing newfound confidence, electrified the crowd with a thunderous left-handed dunk over Quinten Post. As Chandler Holt tweeted, “There has been a serious mindset switch from Cody Williams, and it’s been awesome to see. He just dunked all over Quinten Post with the left hand.” The Jazz maintained their edge, with Markkanen leading all scorers at halftime with 21 points, and the visitors taking a 65-58 lead into the break.
Golden State, however, refused to wilt under pressure. The third quarter belonged to Stephen Curry, who erupted for 20 points in the period—part of his game-high 31-point outburst, with 22 coming in the second half. Curry’s hot hand fueled a Warriors rally, erasing Utah’s lead and pushing Golden State ahead 100-96 after three. Utah’s offense remained efficient—shooting 66.7% from the floor and 57.1% from three in the third—but seven costly turnovers led to 11 Warriors points and swung the momentum.
Drama unfolded midway through the contest as Draymond Green was ejected for arguing a 3-second violation called against teammate Kyle Filipowski. Ben Anderson noted the significance: “Draymond Green gets tossed for arguing about a 3-second violation against Kyle Filipowski. Big loss for the Warriors, who already have one of the thinnest frontcourts in the NBA.” Despite the setback, Golden State’s depth and Curry’s leadership proved decisive.
As the fourth quarter began, Lauri Markkanen continued his relentless attack, reaching 33 points with eight minutes left—threatening to notch his fourth 40-point game of the season. But the Warriors tightened the screws defensively, holding Utah to just 18 points in the final frame. KSL Sports captured the turning point: “The Warriors are threatening to pull away from the Jazz. They own a 113-102 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game.” The Jazz, unable to find their offensive rhythm late, watched Golden State close out the contest with poise and precision.
Markkanen finished with a game-high 35 points, showcasing why he’s among the league’s most versatile forwards. Keyonte George added 22 points and nine assists, continuing his strong rookie campaign. For the Warriors, Curry’s 31 points were the difference-maker, especially his 22 in the second half. The Warriors’ ability to capitalize on Utah’s mistakes—particularly in the third quarter—proved vital.
Looking at the bigger picture, this result extended Utah’s road struggles and losing streak to three games. The Jazz now sit at 0-2 in 2026 and face two more road contests before returning home to Salt Lake City on January 8. Their next stop: Portland, where they’ll look to snap the skid and regain momentum. For Jazz fans, there’s still hope—Markkanen’s offensive explosion and George’s playmaking are bright spots, and the return of key players from injury bodes well for the weeks ahead.
On the Warriors’ side, the bounce-back win after a tough loss to Oklahoma City was a testament to their resilience. With Curry back in the lineup and firing on all cylinders, and despite the absence of Draymond Green for much of the game, Golden State showed the kind of depth and grit that has defined their success over the past decade. The Warriors have now won both meetings with Utah this season, having claimed a 134-117 victory in their previous encounter on November 24, 2025.
Before the game, much of the discussion centered on injuries and absences. The Warriors’ injury list included Seth Curry (thigh, out), Jimmy Butler (illness, day-to-day), De’Anthony Melton (knee, day-to-day), Jonathan Kuminga (illness, day-to-day), and Stephen Curry (ankle, day-to-day). The Jazz had Walker Kessler (shoulder, out for season), Georges Niang (foot, out), Ace Bailey (hip, out), Jusuf Nurkić (foot, questionable), Keyonte George (illness, questionable), and Lauri Markkanen (knee, questionable) on their report. The return of Curry, Markkanen, and George added star power and intrigue to an already compelling matchup.
Fans who tuned in on KJZZ, Jazz+, NBCS-BA, or streamed the action on Fubo were treated to a classic Western Conference battle—full of highlight-reel plays, momentum swings, and individual brilliance. The Jazz outpaced the Warriors for much of the first half, but Golden State’s experience and Curry’s scoring prowess ultimately tipped the scales.
With the season heating up and playoff races tightening, every game takes on added significance. For the Jazz, the road ahead is challenging, but the return of their stars and the emergence of young talents like Cody Williams and Isaiah Collier offer reasons for optimism. For the Warriors, Saturday night’s win was a statement: with Curry healthy and the supporting cast stepping up, Golden State remains a force to be reckoned with in the West.
As both teams look to build on this latest chapter, fans can expect more fireworks the next time the Warriors and Jazz cross paths. Until then, the Chase Center crowd can savor a hard-fought win, while Utah regroups and sets its sights on breaking the streak in Portland.