Utah Jazz outmanned and outscored

OAKLAND, Calif. — Monta Ellis sat stoically on the Golden State bench in the fourth quarter, a towel draped over his head and an emotionless expression. Even he looked stunned.

The only thing perhaps more surprising than his performance was the outcome.

Stephen Curry had 27 points, seven assists and six rebounds and the Warriors overcame Ellis' horrendous shooting performance to beat the undermanned Utah Jazz 96-81 on Sunday night to snap a four-game losing streak.

"It was one of those rare nights where everybody had to pick him up," Curry said.

Even rarer was that they did.

If only the Jazz could do the same without their star.

"We're going through some tough times," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "We haven't played with a lot of energy and then Deron gets hurt. We get banged up and that's what happens when you get in situations like that. But that's where you see where the fight is in you and see how bad you really like to play."

Al Jefferson had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Andrei Kirilenko had 14 points and nine rebounds for a Jazz team that has lost six straight road games. Utah never seriously challenged in this one with star point guard Deron Williams out with a hyperextended right wrist and center Mehmet Okur sidelined by a strained back.

Dorell Wright scored 16 points, and Reggie Williams added 15 to help the Warriors build a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter while Ellis was on the bench. Ellis, averaging a team-high 25 points, was held to a season-low two points on 1-for-9 shooting in 31 minutes.

Warriors coach Keith Smart figured it was just "one of those nights" in the grueling NBA season.

"It rained today. Why did it rain? Blame it on the rain. I don't know why," Smart said. "But I think that's why you try to formulate a basketball team so you don't rely on one particular player."

The Warriors had to find new ways to win.

They did some of their best work early even with Ellis held scoreless for the first half. Wright made a pair of 3-pointers, and Curry followed with another to lead an 11-2 run late in the first quarter.

Golden State pushed its lead to 14 points in the second behind mostly reserves, although it struggled to keep the pace — at first, anyway — without the starters, and the lack of production from Ellis showed.