Warriors hold off Jazz in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — With 2:43 left on the game clock Thursday night, Kevin Durant nabbed a steal, raced down court, bounced off Trey Lyles and soared for the tomahawk dunk.

A once-raucous Vivint Smart Home Arena crowd of 19,911 was silent as Durant stopped at the baseline, pounding his chest as he unleashed a roar. It was a reaction borne from relief. On a a night it nearly coughed up a 25-point lead, Golden State hung on for a 106-99 win over the Jazz.

The near-implosion was a change of script for a Warriors team that has mostly cruised while winning 16 of its past 17 games. Golden State lost the rebounding battle, and for extended stretches in the second half, appeared overwhelmed by a cast of…