Jazz Lose Home Opener On Last-Second Putback By Jerebko

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz lost their home opener 124-123 to the Golden State Warriors on a last-second put back shot by former Jazzman Jonas Jerebko.

The last-second putback marked a 16-point comeback for the Warriors, after overcoming an 81-point first half for the Jazz. Utah followed up the high-scoring half by scoring just 42 points in the second half.

Jerebko’s game-winner came in his second game with Golden State, after the Jazz let him go as a free agent after last season.

On a team with Steph, Klay, KD, and Draymond … Jonas Jerebko is the hero for Golden State 😮 pic.twitter.com/72IG2jaSbd

— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2018

A Strong First Half

Early on, the “Splash Brothers” duo of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were mostly kept in check. Both finished the first quarter with four points apiece. It was Kevin Durant who did most of the damage early, scoring 10 points in the opening period. Still it was the Jazz, thanks to a 3-point foul on Alec Burks at the buzzer, who took the early 34-32 advantage at the end of the first.

The high scoring continued in the second quarter as the Jazz caught fire, making a franchise-record 10 3-pointers in the period to take a 81-69 lead at the break. By the time both teams hit the locker room at halftime, the Jazz already had five scorers in double figures. It was the highest scoring first half in Jazz franchise history, surpassing the 80 points they scored against the Warriors on Dec. 26, 1989.

Do you want to see all the 3s from the second quarter silly question of course you do.#TeamIsEverything pic.twitter.com/O7hYOBVm8F

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 20, 2018

The action turned a bit chippy in the third when an altercation between Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert got most of the players on the floor involved. Green and Derrick Favors both received technical fouls after the incident.

Rudy Gobert vs. Draymond Green, who you got? pic.twitter.com/aZj7xcje8U

— Dime on UPROXX (@DimeUPROXX) October 20, 2018

The Warriors tightened the gap in the third but Joe Ingles’ double-pump 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Jazz a 103-97 lead going into the final quarter.

we call that joe ingles distance, ladies and gentlemen pic.twitter.com/mNMFl57wgA

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 20, 2018

The Fateful Fourth Quarter

The Jazz lost the lead in the last six minutes and played back and forth with Golden State until back-to-back threes by Ricky Rubio and Ingles gave the Jazz a five-point lead with 3:19 remaining. Golden State responded with back-to-back trifectas by Green and Curry to lead by one with under two minutes remaining. A key rebound and put back by Jae Crowder got the lead back for Utah.

After Donovan Mitchell missed a 3-point attempt with the shot clock winding down, the Warriors got the ball back with 6.1 seconds remaining. Durant had a chance at the game-winner and missed but former Jazzman Jerebko tapped it back in with 0.3 seconds remaining to steal the game for the Warriors.

On a team with Steph, Klay, KD, and Draymond … Jonas Jerebko is the hero for Golden State 😮 pic.twitter.com/72IG2jaSbd

— ESPN (@espn) October 20, 2018

Snyder Reacts

“Obviously, tough to lose the game,” said head coach Quin Snyder. “For our group at this point in the year, against a team of that caliber, it goes without saying.”

Snyder continued to say that he was proud of the way his team competed in the loss but added that they may not have finshed as strong as they could have.

“There were a couple of times were we got a little fatigued and I think we got a little tired mentally,” he said.

By The Numbers

Ingles had a career-best outing with 27 points and seven made 3-pointers. Gobert finished with a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mitchell turned in 19 points while Rubio also finished with a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists.

Utah took more 3-pointers than 2-point field goal attempts as they fired up 46 tries from downtown to 43 attempts inside the arc. Of the 46 3-point tries, the Jazz made 19.

Next Up

The Jazz will be back in action to host the Memphis Grizzlies Monday at 7 p.m. at Vivint SmartHome Arena. The game will be broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.