Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio (16) dunks the basketball to win the game 124-123 against the Golden State Warriors in the final seconds of the game at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
Rookie Simone Fontecchio made a game-winning dunk in the last second just after Malik Beasley hit a 3-pointer as the Utah Jazz scored five points in the final 7.8 seconds to earn an improbable 124-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday in Salt Lake City.
Jordan Poole led all scorers with 36 points in a game in which both teams were missing key players.
Poole made one of two free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining to give the Warriors a seemingly secure four-point lead after they trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Jazz pulled off a wild ending victory.
The late rally started with Beasley’s triple with 7.8 seconds to go. Nickeil Alexander-Walker then brought the Jazz to life with 4.3 seconds remaining by stealing the ball from Poole in a frantic moment. The ball was passed to Beasley, who connected with Fontecchio for the game-winning basket with 1.4 seconds remaining.
Fontecchio and Beasley finished with 18 points, Collin Sexton added 17, Kelly Olynyk chipped in 15, Alexander-Walker scored 11 and Walker Kessler had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Jazz.
SIMONE FONTECCHIO FOR THE TRIUMPH OF ROBBERY!@utahjazz WIN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yyclOCRtAg
—NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2022
That final burst of emotion came moments after the ejection of Utah’s Jordan Clarkson, who posted team-high 22 points and nine assists. Clarkson capped the scoring with a layup with 56.6 seconds remaining after the Warriors went ahead on a 7-0 run, but Poole helped Jonathan Kuminga nail the lead with 35.9 seconds remaining.
Kuminga, who scored 24 points, then blocked Clarkson’s jumper and hit one of two technical free throws after the Jazz guard was called for a flagrant-2 foul.
great fight!!! great victory!!!! 🖤
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) December 8, 2022
Golden State’s Klay Thompson didn’t have the best shooting night, going 8-for-25 from the field, but finished with 22 points. The Warriors played without Stephen Curry (ankle), Draymond Green (hip) and Andrew Wiggins (adductor).
The Jazz was not at full strength either. Mike Conley sat out with a knee injury, and top scorer Lauri Markkanen sat out due to illness.
Utah led by five when Moses Moody ignited a 7-0 run for the Warriors with a 3-pointer. Poole put Golden State up 119-117 with 3:08 to go, leading to the crazy finish.
Both teams kept their foot on the gas in the first half, with the Warriors taking a 69-66 lead until halftime.
Utah led by 11 points with nine minutes remaining before Golden State moved into the lead.
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