Playing in front of their home crowd seems to be exactly what the Utah Jazz need to give themselves a chance to get back in this series. After the opening 24 minutes, they lead the Golden State Warriors, 50-49.
Game 3 started exactly how the first two did. Led by Kevin Durant's 22 points, the Warriors were able to build a 27-17 lead at the end of the first, marking the third straight game in which they held a double-digit lead in the opening frame in the series.
Kevin Durant channels his inner Dirk! #DubNation #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #WarriorsJazz pic.twitter.com/TUJCgdKkli
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 7, 2017
Utah responded with a run of their own at the start of the second quarter, and were able to rally and take their first lead of the series in the final minute of the half.
Utah turns a steal into a fast break slam by Gobert at the other end! #TakeNote #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #WarriorsJazz pic.twitter.com/XETR1MQHRn
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 7, 2017
Rudy Gobert gets the offensive rebound and throws it down...with AUTHORITY! #TakeNote #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #WarriorsJazz pic.twitter.com/PNIveV2FD8
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) May 7, 2017
The Jazz were far more balanced offensively in the first half, as Gordon Hayward (nine points), Shelvin Mack (who was starting for the injured George Hill), Boris Diaw and Rudy Gobert (12 points, nine rebounds) all scored at least eight points.
After Durant, Golden State's next highest scorer was Andre Iguodala with six points off the bench. Draymond Green was forced to sit with three personal fouls in the half, and also picked up his first technical foul of the postseason.
The second half now becomes the most important half in Utah's season. A loss tonight puts them down 3-0 in the series, a deficit no team in NBA history has ever overcome to win a series. You can follow the second half of the game in the Chat Sports App!
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