Jazz Stun Warriors After Fontecchio Last Second Dunk
Dec 7, 2022, 9:34 PM | Updated: 11:16 pm
Simone Fontecchio #16 of the Utah Jazz warms up before a game against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Arena on October 19, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Simone Fontecchio scored a career-high 18 points including the game-winning dunk in the final second of the game to earn the Utah Jazz a 124-123 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Both teams were shorthanded as the Jazz were playing without Lauri Markkanen and Mike Conley, while the Warriors were without Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins.
With the win, the Jazz moved to 15-12 on the season.
First Quarter
The Jazz jumped out to a 14-7 lead, but the Warriors answered with an 18-4 run to take a 25-18 lead with five minutes left in the quarter.
Will Hardy played nine players in the opening frame, and each player who saw the floor scored, led by Malik Beasley with six points.
A first for @utahjazz center Walker Kessler tonight against Golden State#TakeNote https://t.co/Vn7mbYVS1c
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 8, 2022
Jordan Poole led all scorers with 13 points for the Warriors.
After one the Jazz trailed the Warriors 35-30.
Second Quarter
The Jazz struggled to match up with Golden State defensively, allowing the Warriors to get easy layups both in transition and the half-court.
Walker Kessler provided the Jazz with a spark in the first half slowing the Warriors attack at the rim with two blocks while adding four rebounds, but was sidelined midway through the second quarter with three fouls.
Malik hits double digits 🐝💤 pic.twitter.com/NIsl0WzSgV
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 8, 2022
Four Jazz players scored in double-digits in the first half including Simone Fontecchio who added 10 off the bench.
Poole’s 21 points carried the Warriors to a 69-66 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
Kessler continued his strong play near the rim in the third quarter blocking two more shots to bring his total to four on the night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker got the backup guard minutes over Talen Horton-Tucker and responded well scoring 11 points on 4-4 shooting from the floor.
.@utahjazz rolling with 7⃣ third quarter threes#TakeNote https://t.co/bgTyH4VL0t
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 8, 2022
Klay Thompson added 11 points in the third to bring his total to 22 for the night, but the Jazz outscored the Warriors 34-22 in the quarter.
After three the Jazz led Golden State 100-91.
Fourth Quarter
The Jazz lead climbed to 11 early in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors answered by trimming their deficit to just one with a 10-2 run.
For the second straight game the Jazz struggled with turnovers late in the game without Conley on the floor.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 8, 2022
Jordan Clarkson and Jonathan Kuminga nearly came to blows after the Warriors forward got a key blocked shot and the two players had to be separated.
Clarkson was given a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two, giving the Warriors two shots and the ball with a two point lead.
However, the Jazz weren’t finished.
LOOK AT THIS pic.twitter.com/8mLVftpxVb
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 8, 2022
Alexander-Walker stole the ball from Poole on the Warriors final possession, and Malik Beasley found Simone Fontecchio for a game-winning dunk with one second left to play.
The Jazz downed the Warriors 124-123.
