Curry scores 31 points in return from one-game absence with ankle injury, Warriors beat Jazz 123-114

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 31 points with six 3-pointers and the Golden State Warriors welcomed back their regulars Saturday to beat the Utah Jazz 123-114 after a 37-point thumping by the Thunder a night earlier playing short-handed.

Curry scored 20 points in the third quarter making six of his seven shots, knocking down a go-ahead 3 with 7:01 left in the period and another the next time down.

Lauri Markkanen shot 9 for 12 in the first half for 21 of his 35 points. Keyonte George had 22 points and nine assists for a Jazz team missing Jusuf Nurkic for a second straight game because of a sprained toe on his left foot. Utah has lost three straight and seven of nine.

Curry returned from a one-game absence with a sprained left ankle and Jimmy Butler contributed 15 points and seven assists after an illness sidelined him for the 131-94 defeat to defending champion Oklahoma City.

Draymond Green had also rested Friday but was ejected again with 2:25 left in the second quarter after consecutive technicals for arguing with officials.

Green apparently thought there should have been a 3-second call and was tossed for the second time in his last four home games.

Also during this stretch, he left the bench following a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr during a third-quarter timeout Dec. 22 against Orlando and then went to the locker room on his own to cool down. Both later apologized.

Green now has nine technicals this season, and would receive an automatic one-game suspension upon reaching 16. He had eight points, three rebounds and two assists in 12 minutes of action.

The Warriors won't be happy with 15 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Jazz. Taking care of the ball has been a regular focus.

Jazz: At Portland on Monday night.

Warriors: Visit the Clippers on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Utah Jazz guard Svi Mykhailiuk (10) shoots over Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry smiles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates his three-pointer against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS

The World Cup will be played in 16 cities from June 11 to July 19, including 14 in the U.S. There are players in Major League Soccer vying for spots on the 26-man U.S. roster, to be announced by coach Mauricio Pochettino in New York on May 26. Six-to-10 MLS players are projected to make the roster. Additional players will be selected for other teams in the 48-nation World Cup field. In 2022, 35 MLS players were on rosters of 12 of the 32 teams.

READ SOME OF AP'S LATEST WORLD CUP COVERAGE

AP Newsroom: FIFA World Cup

Kansas City is World Cup central, hosting England, Argentina and the Netherlands along with 6 games

Seattle to host World Cup games for the 1st time: 5 things to know about the Emerald City

Exorbitantly expensive tickets for early World Cup games still on general sale

4 US-born players could be in the mix for Mexico’s World Cup roster

FIND PLAYERS WITH TIES TO YOUR LOCAL TEAM

View this spreadsheet to find MLS players who are competing for a spot on a FIFA World Cup Team. The spreadsheet also includes their hometowns and where they went to school.

Some spots are already secured or likely, but final rosters are expected to be published by FIFA on June 1. Some coaches may announce before that. Changes can be made up until 24 hours before a team’s first game.

The spreadsheet includes players from the following U.S. and Canadian club teams:

Atlanta United

Austin

Charlotte

Chicago Fire

Colorado Rapids

Columbus Crew

D.C. United

Cincinnati

Dallas

Inter Miami

LA Galaxy

LAFC

Minnesota United

Nashville

New England Revolution

New York City FC

Orlando City

Philadelphia Union

Portland Timbers

Real Salt Lake

New York Red Bulls

San Diego

Seattle Sounders

Toronto

Vancouver Whitecaps

READ ADDITIONAL AP COVERAGE

Gianni Infantino affirms at the FIFA Congress that Iran will participate in the World Cup

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa eyes an emotional farewell after the World Cup

Fox’s World Cup coverage will have British flavor, with 6 of 9 play-by-play commentators from UK

This year’s World Cup games could be sizzling. Here’s what’s being done to prepare for extreme heat

FIFA to pay out $100M in extra cash to help cover World Cup teams’ costs in North America

Why you may see Japanese soccer fans cleaning up the stadium after World Cup games

17-year-old sensation Gilberto Mora could make World Cup history for Mexico

Boston World Cup host committee says tailgating will be allowed for Foxborough games

New York City to hold free World Cup fan events in each borough

4 tickets to World Cup final are listed on FIFA’s resale site for more than $2 million

Localize It is a resource produced regularly by The Associated Press for its customers’ use. Questions can be directed to the Local News Success team at localizeit@ap.org. View guides published in the last 30 days here.

The FIFA logo is displayed on a World Cup countdown timer outside BC Place stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Monday, May 4, 2026. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)