3/25 Utah at Golden State
6:30 pm MT – NBA TV
Opponent record: 53-17
Season series: Tied 1-1
Normally this would be a contest that I’d be extremely worried about, because well, it’s the Warriors. However, not only did the Jazz happen to pummel Golden State in their previous meeting by 30 points, but the Warriors have turned into a bit of the walking wounded of late. Klay Thompson has been sidelined with a thumb fracture, Kevin Durant is dealing with a rib issue and Stephen Curry is fighting an ankle injury.
According to previously stated injury timelines, both Durant and Thompson should still be out for this contest on Sunday, whereas Curry could be back in action, though he’s set to be out until at least March 20 and hasn’t played since a March 8 victory over San Antonio. All three of the Warriors stars sat out the recent contest against the Sacramento Kings which resulted in a loss at Oracle Arena, but the beleaguered Warriors bounced back in the following game to beat the hapless Phoenix Suns.
So while Golden State’s injury situation makes this game somewhat difficult to predict until we know who’s going to suit up, with at least Durant and Thompson likely out and with Curry a possibility to be sidelined as well, I certainly like Utah’s chances. Even if all three stars sit, there are players the Jazz will need to watch out for, such as the Warriors’ fourth star Draymond Green and guard Quinn Cook who went off for a career-high 28 against the Suns on Saturday.
Nevertheless, while the Warriors will be rolling out a roster that’s beat up to some degree, the Jazz will bring in their red hot squad that’s anxious to continue their surge up the standings and potentially even pursue home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Injuries aside, Golden State seems to be on cruise control until they hit postseason, so the Jazz may very well be able to take advantage of a beat-up and unfocused squad to steal a game against the defending champs that many would have otherwise presumed as a loss.
A lot could change between now and Sunday in terms of the Warriors’ health, but Utah has played sensational basketball for the better part of two months and looked great against a full-strength Warriors team back at the end of January, so with all these factors adding up, I’m pinning the Jazz as finding a way to earn a tough road victory in this one.
My Prediction: Jazz Win
Final Score: Utah 104, Golden State 96
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So while a 3-1 record, as I’ve predicted for the Jazz this week, might seem like a disappointment considering that they’ve won nine in a row, it would probably still be good enough to keep them right in the thick of contention for home court advantage in the West and may even be optimistic in and of itself considering the caliber of opponents Utah will face in Week 23.
Things really don’t get any easier for them from now until they cross the season’s finish line, so seeing how they perform in a more difficult stretch will be big for determining their hopes to close out the season strong. If all continues to go well this week, the Jazz will only further solidify themselves as a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.