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Oakland, Calif. • Quin Snyder never said the thing that got Draymond Green so fired up.

Before the Jazz and Warriors played back in December, Green received a text message from his mother with a quote, attributed to Snyder, that suggested Utah could live with letting Green shoot the ball. Given Golden State's multitude of offensive weapons — and Green's field goal percentage — the strategy would have made some sense, though Snyder certainly never said so publicly.

But with that notion tacked to the bulletin board in his mind, Green hurt the Jazz, knocking down four triples en route to a victory.

Maybe that's why Snyder was so effusive in his praise of the Warriors' feisty forward before Thursday night's game.

"I have so much respect for him," the Jazz coach said. "As a coach, he's the kind of player you want to coach. Part of the reason you want to coach him is because he's got an edge."

That edge, and apparently Green's memory, have stayed sharp. The forward knocked down five first-half 3-pointers to help the Warriors beat the Jazz, 115-104, to go up 2-0 in this Western Conference semifinal matchup.

Golden State led 33-15 after one quarter Thursday. And while the Jazz showed fight, outscoring the Warriors 89-82 over the final three periods, they never could overcome the Warriors' initial punch.

"We have to start the game better," Snyder said afterward.

Golden State is the NBA's most talented team and showed the depth of its star power Thursday night at Oracle Arena. Even before former MVPs Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant really got going, before sharpshooter Klay Thompson even had attempted a 3-pointer, Green was leading the charge against the Jazz.

Utah always was facing an uphill battle against the Warriors. The Jazz were 13-point underdogs in Game 2. And that was before it was announced starting point guard George Hill would be sidelined by soreness in his left big toe, an injury that has hampered him throughout the season.

"It's something he's been dealing with for a while, trying to fight through it and give us everything he's got," Jazz forward Gordon Hayward said before Thursday's game, as he shook his head considering the importance of his point guard and the onslaught of injuries his team dealt with all season. "I know it's very frustrating for him to finally have to say, 'You know what, I can't go tonight.' But that's been our season. Not just for him, but for [forward Derrick Favors] and other guys not being able to play. Frustrating."

Hill's absence left Snyder relying on backups Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto to try to slow down Curry and Co.

"We give ourselves a chance," Snyder said, "by not hanging our heads or throwing in the towel."

Green's fourth 3-pointer of the night put Golden State up by 20 in the first half and had the 19,000-plus fans waving their bright yellow towels over their heads.

"He was big," Warriors coach Mike Brown said about Green. "Draymond is at the top of the floor quite a bit. Obviously their game plan is to have whoever is guarding Draymond sit in the lane, so he's getting some wide-open 3s. Hopefully — knock on wood — he keeps shooting like he has been in the playoffs."

After scoring 12 points on 4-of-15 shooting in Game 1, Hayward got himself going Thursday. He had 12 points by halftime, then 12 more in the third quarter. Hayward's turnaround jumper late in the first half capped a 10-0 Utah run, bringing the Jazz to within 10 of the Warriors.

The Jazz trimmed their deficit to six on a Rodney Hood jumper with about nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Golden State, of course, had an answer. Starting with a bucket inside from Green, the Warriors ripped off a 10-1 run over the next two and a half minutes, snatching three steals in the process.

Snyder said he liked his team's activity as the game went on, but added, "I think when a team gets up on you like they did, they get a little loose and we were able to make plays."

Hayward finished with a game-high 33 points to lead the Jazz. Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 16 rebounds. Mack had 14 points and four assists.

The Warriors were led by 25 points and 11 rebounds from Durant. Curry finished with 23 points and seven assists.

Green had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists when he walked back to the locker room midway through the fourth quarter after sustaining a leg injury. The forward was driving to the basket and came up awkwardly after hitting the floor. He would return to the game a few minutes later.

The Jazz now find themselves in an 0-2 hole as they return to Salt Lake City, hoping to refocus and regain Hill in time for Game 3.

The Jazz know how difficult the challenge is ahead.

"You just know making mistakes that they're going to hurt you," Jazz forward Joe Ingles said Thursday. "You're going to pay."

Sometimes, they even make you pay for the mistakes you don't make.

Twitter: @aaronfalk