AI-assisted summary
• The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 to win the NFC West title.
• Seattle’s victory clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, securing a first-round bye and homefield advantage.
• The Seahawks defense dominated the game, holding the 49ers to just three points and 173 total yards.

It’s already a happy new year for the Seattle Seahawks.  

The Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed in the NFC and won the NFC West title after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 on Saturday night.

Seattle’s stingy defense controlled most of game as they contained a hot 49ers offense through four quarters.

The Seahawks scored the game’s first touchdown and held a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Seattle managed just a field goal in the fourth quarter, and that represented the only points of the second half.

The 49ers threatened to cut into Seattle’s lead, but Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas intercepted a tipped Brock Purdy pass in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks offense took over possession of the football and proved able to preserve their advantage in what was a dominant performance by Seattle’s defense.  

The victory earned the Seattle the NFC West title and clinched them the No. 1 seed overall in the NFC playoffs.

Here are the winners and losers from the battle out west:

Winners

Seahawks defense

The Seahawks held San Francisco to only three first downs and three points in the first half.

Seattle held San Francisco to just 105 total yards and five first downs entering the fourth quarter.

Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe ended what was a promising drive for the 49ers when he got his finger tips on a Brock Purdy pass intended for Christian McCaffrey. The wobbly football floated behind McCaffrey and was picked off by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas at Seattle’s 3-yard line with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter.

The turnover helped Seattle maintain a 13-3 lead.

Seattle’s defense held the 49ers to 173 total yards as they went 2-9 on third downs and only managed three points. The 49ers went scoreless in the second half.

Brock Purdy was sacked three times and intercepted once.

The Seahawks came into Week 18 with a top 10 total defense and ranked No. 2 in points allowed (18.1).

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III

Smith-Njigba and Walker were the two best players on Seattle’s offense.

Smith-Njigba entered Week 18 with an NFL-best 1,709 receiving yards this season. The Seahawks wide receiver produced a game-high six catches for 84 yards.

Walker rushed 16 times for 97 yards in what was a productive night for the RB.  

Seahawks, city of Seattle

The Seahawks will be a rested team come playoff time. Seattle clinched the NFC’s top seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The road to Super Bowl 60 goes through Seattle in the NFC.

Alternate 49ers jerseys

The 49ers debuted their Nike X NFL Rivalry jerseys on Saturday night. It’s a slick all-black look that features midnight black helmet with a red stripe down the middle and a gold-coated facemask.

Losers

Jason Myers

Myers missed a 47-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter and had a 26-yard field goal brick off the upright in the fourth quarter.

The Seahawks kicker even had a kickoff go out of bounds.

It was an off night for Myers, who came into the contest having not missed a field goal since Week 11.

Seattle’s defense was so dominant, though, Myers’ off night didn’t have much of an impact.  

49ers run defense

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III had a 19-yard run on third-and-17 late in the third quarter to help Seattle maintain possession.

The Seahawks capped off the drive with a successful 31-yard field goal by Myers to extend their lead to 13-3 with 14:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers defense gave up 180 yards on the ground and one touchdown. The Seahawks averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

49ers injuries

The 49ers have dealt with injuries to key players all season. The team’s ability to overcome injuries to players such as linebacker Fred Warner, edge rusher Nick Bosa and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is a big reason why Kyle Shanahan is a coach of the year candidate.

On Saturday, star left tackle Trent Williams was inactive due to a hamstring injury and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was out because of knee and ankle injuries. San Francisco couldn’t overcome its injuries against a good Seahawks club.

Linebacker Dee Winters injured his ankle in the first half, and Purdy took a beating late in Saturday’s game.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams, last year’s NFC West champion, had to watch what amounted to be the NFC West title game.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected during the second quarter of the game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 3 at Chase Center.

After back-to-back technical fouls, Green was sent to the showers early with 2:25 left in the second quarter.

After defending Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski in the paint, Green said something to the official and clapped his hands.

Concerned with the no-call (looking for an offensive three-seconds in the paint?) Green gave up a Lauri Markkanen dunk as he ran freely into the lane after a Filipowski pass.

Green continued to have an animated discussion with the official and received his first technical foul. He continued to argue his case and received a second technical foul from a different official.

Green ended the game with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a block in 12 minutes. The Warriors trailed at the half, 65-58.

‘I don’t know what he said,’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team’s 123-114 win.

It was Green’s ninth technical foul of the season. An automatic one-game suspension is issued when a player receives their 16th technical of the NBA regular-season.

‘We need Draymond. I want him out there,’ Kerr said. ‘We’re not halfway through the season yet, so long way to go and we need him.’

Green’s teammates also came to his defense.

‘Believe it or not, Dray sparked us,’ Gary Payton II said. ‘Everybody had to turn it up a notch. You don’t make up for what he does and what he brings to the team. I think after halftime we came out with a little more spark, less turnovers, got in transition and got our shooters open shots.’

AI-assisted summary
• Tampa Bay’s victory over Carolina did not decide the NFC South, leaving the division title still contested.
• The Atlanta Falcons now have a chance to create a three-way tie for the NFC South title with a win on Sunday.

The NFL runs a risk every May when its schedule comes out – hoping those “TBD” slots it reserves for the Saturday of Week 18 ultimately get filled by games worthy of the standalone broadcast windows.

Jan. 3 provided further proof that the league knows what it’s doing – serving up a pair of matchups with massive postseason stakes. And even then, the schedule makers got another win – the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 16-14 defeat of the Carolina Panthers actually failing to decide the NFC South title (more on that later). On the other side of the country, the Seattle Seahawks dominated the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 to win the NFC west and the conference’s top seed.

Scoreboards aside, here are the winners, losers – and otherwise – from Saturday’s games:

Neither winner nor loser

NFC South

The Bucs and Panthers now knotted with 8-9 records, the winner of the division is still unknown. In a vacuum, Tampa Bay owns the common-games tiebreaker that puts the team in its near-perennial spot atop the division. But if the Atlanta Falcons create a three-way tie by winning Sunday, Carolina would get the tiebreaker by virtue of a 3-1 mark against the Falcons and Bucs, eclipsing the other two teams. The ironic aspect? Atlanta and the New Orleans Saints are clearly the division’s best squads at this point of the season.

WINNERS

Seattle Seahawks

Ironically, they’ve been a better road in their two seasons under coach Mike Macdonald. But the ‘Hawks have also won five in a row at Lumen Field, traditionally one of the most raucous venues in the league. Seattle has won 10 of its last 11 postseason games at home – though the loss, five years ago to the Rams, came in the Seahawks’ most recent playoff appearance in the Pacific Northwest. Still, if nothing else, the No. 1 seed not only afford that precious week off, it spares the Seahawks from a far-flung trip from the nation’s corner – and forces another team to possibly take a long flight there.

Sam Darnold

Who says he can’t win the big game? Like Seattle LB Ernest Jones IV said … well we can’t repeat what he said − but job well done, Sam.

Mother Nature

Still undefeated. The footing at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium was bad, and it was evident as players slipped, kicks were affected, and the general quality of play was impacted in such a critical game.

Seattle D

The Seahawks limited the 49ers to three points − after San Francisco had averaged 42.3 over its previous three games. Enough said.

ESPN

The home of “Monday Night Football” continues to enjoy an expanded presence late in the season, broadcasting both of Saturday’s consequential duels with another to come during the wild-card round of the playoffs. A year from now, ESPN will have the Super Bowl for the first time – though it will be simulcast on ABC. And Disney’s NFL footprint is only likely to continue growing ahead of its pending deal to acquire NFL Network, RedZone Channel and other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL, the crossover between the entities already readily apparent.

Los Angeles Rams

They can move ahead of the 49ers and claim the fifth seed by beating the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Why is that important? It would convey a date with the sub-.500 NFC South champion. And, we know, the Panthers beat the Rams a few weeks ago – but we’re betting Matthew Stafford and Co. are ready to roll with real stakes hanging in the balance.

Atlanta Falcons

Hey, a team eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago now has something tangible to play for Sunday in its finale against the Saints. Not only might a season-ending four-game winning streak save this coaching staff but knocking off the Bucs in the process would be especially sweet.

Lavonte David

In what might have been the 14-year veteran’s final game – or at least the linebacker’s last one with the Bucs, his contract set to expire after the season – he recorded six stops Saturday to tie Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks as the most prolific tackler in franchise history.

Rico Dowdle

The Carolina running back, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards in 2024 for the Dallas Cowboys but was grossly undervalued by them and the free agent market has essentially matched that figure this season and earned a $1 million bonus Saturday by reaching 1,350 yards from scrimmage. Dowdle, who signed a $2.75 million contract with the Panthers before the season – and prior to hitting his incentive Saturday and others previously – should see a lot more green on the market a few months from now.

LOSERS

Rico Dowdle

With Carolina set up in the Bucs’ red zone early in the fourth quarter and trailing by nine, Dowdle slipped while tossing the ball back to QB Bryce Young on an apparent flea flicker. Fumble … and pretty much game, set and match. Tampa Bay didn’t actually convert the turnover into points but did burn nearly six precious minutes off the clock before getting a field-goal try blocked. (Regardless, Dowdle still gets to keep his milli.)

San Francisco 49ers

Not only did they fail to climb up to the top spot in the NFC, they could now drop to the sixth by Sunday night. Worse, QB Brock Purdy suffered a stinger near the end of the loss to Seattle and only has a week to get right before the Niners hit the playoff road.

Christian McCaffrey

A guy who was deservedly getting something of a late MVP push was responsible for a late turnover – unable to hang on to a Purdy pass near the goal line in the fourth quarter that turned into an interception – and one that effectively ended the Niners’ shot at that coveted No. 1 seed. ‘It’s a play that I absolutely have to make,’ McCaffrey said afterward.

Jason Myers

Seattle’s kicker missed two field goals, from 47 and 26 yards – not the kind of momentum you want to carry into the Super Bowl tournament.

Third quarter officiating in Tampa

Whether it was the lateral that was prematurely blown dead − though the officials still moved the Panthers back 7 yards − or the dubious offensive pass interference against Tetairoa McMillan, which wiped out his 32-yard reception, the zebras were especially unkind to Carolina as it tried to whittle down a 13-6 halftime deficit.

49ers offense

Kicking off Saturday without injured starters – especially studs like all-universe LT Trent Williams and WR1 Ricky Pearsall – was hardly an ideal way to take on the mighty Seahawks defense with so much hanging in the balance.

AI-assisted summary
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-14 in their final regular-season game.
• Both teams’ playoff hopes now depend on the outcome of the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game.
• The Buccaneers need a Saints victory or a tie to win the NFC South and make the playoffs.

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wore a hat during his team’s Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that had the word “OPPORTUNITY” written on it. 

Ironic. 

Both teams enter the final day of the regular season with their respective playoff fates beyond their control. A potential Atlanta Falcons victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 4 would render the Buccaneers’ 16-14 victory in sloppy conditions Jan. 3 in Tampa moot. But if the Saints win (or tie), the Bucs would move on as the NFC’s No. 4 seed and NFC South division winners for the fifth straight season.  

The Panthers cracked the window for the sliding doors scenario – a win would have automatically clinched the division title for Carolina, who can still make the playoffs with a Falcons victory.

“Shoot, I think we’re all gonna be on the seat of our – the edge of our seats (Sunday), watching that game, hoping for the outcome, for the Falcons to pull through,” Canales told reporters after the game. “At the same time, at least we have that hope to look at.”

Baker Mayfield ‘hates’ the Saints, but will pull for them Sunday

For Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who earlier this season made headlines for espousing his hatred of the Saints, it’s a somewhat awkward situation. 

“We’ll all be pulling for New Orleans,” Mayfield told reporters. 

Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David started his postgame news conference by thanking everybody in the room for the past 14 years, which begged the question: “So is this it?” 

“Nah,” he replied. “I’m trying to see what the Saints are going to do tomorrow.” 

He never thought the day would come in which he had to root for the Saints. 

“I got some guys over there who I know who I can get in contact with to make sure they handle business,” he said. 

Mayfield was quick to point out that a tie could get the Bucs into the playoffs too. He said there could be a group text sent out for a watch party among teammates. 

‘We put ourselves in this situation’

Carolina signal-caller Bryce Young said he hasn’t even thought about the Falcons-Saints matchup. Missing out on the opportunity – there’s that word again – to take the division for themselves and now that it’s in the hands of somebody else is uncomfortable. 

“I might not even watch, to be honest with you,” he told reporters. 

Waiting is all these two teams can do, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said. 

‘Can’t wait for tomorrow if we didn’t win today,” Bowles told reporters. He continued: “Gave ourselves a chance. All we can ask for.” 

He will be watching the 1 p.m. ET kickoff from home. His team watched a 5-1 start to the season slip away and Bowles said they could have made “a ton” of plays down the stretch. But dwelling on the past doesn’t change it, he said. 

“It’s disappointing today. Could be jubilation tomorrow,” Bowles said. “If tomorrow doesn’t happen, it’ll be disappointing. We put ourselves in this situation. We’re grown men about it.”

Mayfield agreed with everything Bowles said. The focus was always beating the Panthers and then letting the chips fall as they may. 

“Honestly, it just felt good to get back into that win column, have that singular-game focus, control what we can control. It’s just about us right now. Go execute to the best level that we can and find a way to win.” 

Mayfield was asked about his thoughts on the Bucs should they advance. 

“Feel good about it,” he said with that type of grin that says more than anything that actually came out of Mayfield’s mouth. “Feel good about it if we get in.” 

“If” being the uncomfortable reality for the last day of the season.

The United States’ run at the 2026 world junior hockey championship is over.

Finland pulled off a 4-3 overtime victory on Friday, Jan. 2, after a wild third period in which the Finns rallied for a 3-2 lead only to see the USA tie the game.

The overtime didn’t last long as defenseman Arttu Valila scored his first goal and point of the tournament at 2:11 to send the host USA home empty-handed with a quarterfinal loss.

The USA had brought back eight players from the 2025 team that beat Finland 4-3 in overtime for a second consecutive gold medal. That group included defenseman Cole Hutson, who returned on Friday from a scary injury that he suffered in the tournament’s second game.

Hutson showed his importance by recording a goal and an assist in the second period, and the USA led 2-1 after two periods.

But Finland struck with two goals in 55 seconds in the third period (Leo Tuuva had a goal and assist) to take a 3-2 lead. The USA tied the game on a Ryker Lee goal with 1:33 left, forcing overtime.

The USA couldn’t match last year’s overtime result as Finland ended the Americans’ three-peat bid and advanced to the semifinals against rival Sweden.

“They played a great game tonight and came up just short,’ USA coach Bob Motzko said. ‘Give Finland credit. It’s an empty feeling right now, but our guys gave it all they had.”

USA TODAY provided live coverage of the USA vs. Finland game. Here are the highlights:

USA vs. Finland highlights

World juniors hockey semifinals set

With Canada’s 7-1 win against Slovakia, the world junior championships are set. No. 1 Sweden will face rival Finland in Sunday’s early game at 4:30 p.m. ET. Canada will face Czechia at 8:30 p.m. The medal games will be on Monday.

What’s next at the world junior championships?

The semifinals are on Sunday, Jan. 4. Sweden, Czechia and Finland have advanced, and Canada has a big lead on Slovakia in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are re-seeded so No. 1 Sweden would face the lowest remaining seed.

USA’s best players

James Hagens, Will Zellers and Brodie Ziemer are named the USA’s best players of the tournament.

Final score: Finland 4, USA 3 (OT)

The USA’s three-peat bid at the world junior championships is over. Arttu Valila scores at 2:11 for a 4-3 win. That’s the same score by which the USA had beaten Finland in last year’s gold medal game. Finland advances to the semifinals.

Overtime underway

USA chants start as 3-on-3 overtime begins.

End of third: USA 3, Finland 3

Ryker Lee ties it up

Will Zellers makes a nice rush down the ice. James Hagens picks up the puck behind the net and feeds Ryker Lee for the goal with 1:33 left. USA 3, Finland 3

Big save by Nick Kempf

He stops a 2-on-1 break with less than three minutes left.

Finland takes the lead

That’s two goals in 55 seconds for Finland. Leo Tuuva sets up Joona Saarelainen. Finland 3, USA 2

Finland ties it up

Aron Kiviharju makes a nice backdoor pass to Leo Tuuva with 7:17 left in the third period. USA 2, Finland 2

Brendan McMorrow injury

The USA’s McMorrow blocked a shot with his hand and he’s not on the bench.

Czechia-Switzerland final score

The Czechs win 6-2 to advance to the semifinals. They rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits. Their opponent is to be determined.

Finland power play

Will Zellers is called for goaltender interference. Finland is 0-for-1 on the power play in this game. USA kills it off.

Third period underway

USA leads 2-1. Eight of the last 10 games between these teams have been one-goal games.

End of second: USA 2, Finland 1

Cole Hutson showed why the USA missed him while he was out 2½ games after his injury scare. He picked up a goal and assist in that period. The smooth-skating defenseman joined the rush to open the scoring and he skated down to low in the faceoff circle to set up Cole Eiserman’s go-ahead goal.

USA power play

Kasper Pikkarainen is called for boarding Logan Hensler. It’s reviewed and ruled only a two-minutes penalty. The USA is 1-for-2 so far in the game. Finland kills it off.

Cole Eiserman gives USA lead

Cole Hutson carries the puck to the bottom of the faceoff circle on a power play and feeds Cole Eiserman in front. That’s two points by Hutson in this game, giving him the U.S. record for most career points by a defenseman at the tournament. USA 2, Finland 1

USA power play

Finland called for too many men on the ice.

Finland ties it up

Heikki Ruohonen scores from the faceoff circle after a pass from Max Westergard. USA 1, Finland 1

Cole Hutson scores for USA

He rushes up the ice, takes a pass from Kamil Bednarik and rips a shot past Petteri Rimpinen. It’s his 14th point in world juniors history, tying him with Erik Johnson for the USA record for a defenseman. USA 1, Finland 0

Second period underway

Scoreless. USA is short-handed for 25 seconds. Now it’s even strength.

End of first: USA 0, Finland 0

USA outshoots Finland 12-8 in that period. Cole Hutson looks good moving the puck. The USA had a couple turnovers, but goalie Nick Kempf keeps it scoreless.

Finland power play

AJ Spellacy is called for tripping. The USA gave up three power-play goals by Sweden in the last game. The USA kills the first part of the penalty but 25 seconds will spill into the second period.

USA chance

AJ Spellacy breaks in with speed, but Petteri Rimpinen makes a save. Still scoreless with five minutes left in the first period.

Big save by Nick Kempf

He stops Heikki Ruohonen in tight after a USA turnover.

USA power play

Mitja Jokinen is called for hooking. Cole Hutson was on the ice at the time of the call, so he’s not on the power play unit to start, but he’s out there now. Finland kills it off.

Game underway

It’s win or go home.

What channel is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?

TV channel: NHL Network

Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.

Watch world junior championships on Fubo

What time is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?

Date: Friday, Jan. 2

Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.

World juniors USA vs. Finland: How to watch, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2

Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

TV: NHL Network

Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.

World junior championships quarterfinals today

Jan. 2

• Sweden 6 Latvia 3: The Swedes remain perfect at the tournament and will have the top seed in Sunday’s semifinals. Anton Frondell, a Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick, scored twice, including 10 seconds into the game.
• Czechia 6. Switzerland 2: Jiri Klima and Petr Sikora each had a goal and two assists.
• Finland 4, USA 3 (OT): Arttu Vilala scored at 2:11 of overtime to oust the two-time defending champion United States. The USA’s Ryker Lee had tied the game with 1:33 left in regulation. Cole Hutson returned from his injury vs. Switzerland and had a goal and an assist.
• Canada 7, Slovakia 1: Canada got goals from seven different scores to oust Slovakia.

USA vs Finland history

The U.S. and Finland have met 40 times previously, with Team USA having a 20-19-1 advantage. They split games in last year’s tournament, but the USA won 4-3 in overtime for its second consecutive gold medal.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman told NHL Network it has been a ‘pretty tough week, lots of emotions’ as he returns for the first time since his injury in the Switzerland game.

Asked how he would manage expectations on Friday, he said: ‘I think it’s keeping it simple for the first few shifts, make sure I’m not trying anything too crazy. Hopefully then my game will come out soon and somehow I’ll help the team win.’

USA, Finland lineups

Finland goaltender vs USA

Petteri Rimpinen, the top goalie of the 2025 tournament, is expected to start against the USA. Like last year, he has played every minute. The Kings draft pick has a 2.49 goals-against average and a .865 save percentage. Those numbers are down from last year.

USA goaltender vs Finland

The USA will go with Notre Dame’s Nick Kempf in net. He has given up only two goals in the tournament, including one on 17 shots in the third period against Sweden after he replaced starter Brady Knowling. He won the second game against Switzerland. He has a 1.54 goals against average and .934 save percentage. 

Sweden advances to semifinals

Sweden improved to 5-0 after a 6-3 win against Latvia. Blackhawks draft pick Anton Frondell scored 10 seconds into the game and also scored in the third period.

USA players to watch

Will Zellers leads the USA with five goals and seven points. He had the game-winning goal in the first three games. Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) has six points and James Hagens (Bruins) has five.

Finland players to watch

Roope Vesterinen leads Finland with four goals and is tied for the team with five points. Defenseman Lasse Boelius also has five points, including two goals.

Cole Hutson injury update

The USA defenseman will suit up for the first time since he left the second game on a stretcher after being hit in the head by a puck. Injured forward Max Plante remains day-to-day.

Germany wins relegation game

Fifth-place Germany beat beat fifth-place Denmark 8-4 in Friday’s relegation game and will stay in the top level of the world junior championships. Denmark, which had qualified for the tournament this season, moves down one level. It went winless in Minnesota.

U.S. Olympians and potential Olympians have been dealing with injuries all season long and it continued on the day that the full team was announced.

Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones took a puck up high on a shot from the New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere in the first period on Friday, Jan. 2 and left the Winter Classic with an upper-body injury. He went to a medical tent, took the long walk to the dressing room and didn’t return to the game.

‘You saw the impact that he had on the Florida team to win the Stanley Cup,’ USA coach Mike Sullivan said. ‘He’s a big, strong kid that skates extremely well. I think he has the ability to play on both sides of the puck and impact the game on both sides of the puck.’

Seth Jones injury report

Panthers coach Paul Maurice gave an update on Jones after the game.

‘It doesn’t look terrible right now. He just has to get looked at tomorrow,’ he said.

Jones’ injury is the latest that the U.S. Olympic team has dealt with this season. All six of the first players named had missed time. Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk has yet to return from offseason hernia surgery, and Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk (thumb surgery) and Boston’s Charlie McAvoy (broken jaw) are playing again. Vegas’ Jack Eichel returned Friday after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.

Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin, named Friday, is out with a second injury and has been limited to five games. New Jersey’s Jack Hughes has returned after finger surgery for an injury suffered at a team dinner.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors were without multiple rotational pieces, including their big three of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

Their void was felt.

The Warriors fell to the Thunder, 131-94, as they shot 36% on Friday night at the Chase Center.

Golden State was led by Moses Moody, Al Horford and rookie guard Will Richard; they each had 13 points on the night.

“I feel like for us, we got to make it a lot easier on ourselves by creating easy shots to get each other going,” Richard told USA TODAY Sports. “Maybe getting backdoor cuts, making the right play and getting somebody open. I feel like that’s how you can get yourself out of (a slump).”

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and seven assists. He shot 50% from the field in the Oklahoma City victory. Aaron Wiggins, Branden Carlson and Chet Holgrem each had 15.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that, despite not having their stars, the performance was disappointing.

“We weren’t well organized, we didn’t compete well together, disappointing,” Kerr said to reporters after the loss. “Obviously playing them, the best team in the league, but I thought we could have been a lot better.”

The Thunder jumped out to a 34-23 first quarter lead behind 12 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Warriors, without their stars, would need contributions from everyone, and they got just that in the first. Nearly everyone scored in the opening quarter.

The Thunder’s biggest lead in the first half was 13, most of it built in the first quarter, but in the second quarter, the Warriors began to settle in.

Golden State went on a 13-6 run in the first five minutes of the second quarter to cut the lead to two. And then Oklahoma City followed with 19 unanswered points, most of them without Gilgeous-Alexander on the floor. When he was subbed in, it was more of the same.

The Thunder led the Warriors 64-45 at the end of the first half. They built their 19-point lead after going on a 26-9 run in seven minutes to end the second quarter.

“I don’t know that, that was the stretch, I mean the whole game was lopsided,” Kerr told USA TODAY Sports. ‘They won every quarter by 9, 10, 11 points. They’re a great team and they got rolling. I didn’t feel we were very well connected tonight and never found any rhythm.”

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half before the Thunder began to pull away. Oklahoma City’s largest lead extended to 33. The Thunder led 95-66 after three quarters.

The onslaught continued through the rest of the game, although the Warriors managed to put up more of a fight in the fourth quarter.

Thunder vs. Warriors highlights

Recap: Warriors keys

• Fill some big shoes: Warriors are without their top scorers and playmakers, so someone is going to have to step up and take the challenge of filling the roles of Curry, Butler and Green. Who will it be? Six players scored in double figures for Golden State, in a loss.
• Make every possession count: The Thunder are a team where there’s little room for error, whether you’re missing stars or not. In this case, with the Warriors missing key guys, it’s important to make every possession count, both on offense and defense. Offensively, find quality shots and take care of the basketball. Defensively, players have to be active on the court. Pressure the perimeter, contain the paint and limit second-chance baskets. The Warriors missed tons of good looks against the Thunder.
• Continue heater from deep: The Warriors made a season-high 24 3-point field goals as a team against Charlotte. Despite missing arguably the greatest shooter of all time, the expectation is still there to knock down 3s. Golden State will need to be on a heater to keep up with Oklahoma City, which averages 122.1 points per game. The Warriors have scored more than 120 in their last five games, going 4-1. Golden State shot 29.5% from 3 and didn’t score over 120 points.
• Keep SGA off the free throw line: Have to be sound, smart defensively. Gilgeous-Alexander has a high offensive IQ and knows how to exploit the defense and draw fouls. Warriors defenders have to be mindful of their angles and positioning when guarding the crafty Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander ended the game with 30 points and made all seven free throw attempts.

Warriors’ next five games

• Jan. 3 vs. Utah Jazz
• Jan. 5 at Los Angeles Clippers
• Jan. 7 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
• Jan. 9 vs. Sacramento Kings
• Jan. 11 vs. Atlanta Hawks