The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 26 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 8: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high-five after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Man
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 8: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz high-five after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 8, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Man /
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PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 08: Kevin Durant #35 (R) of the Golden State Warriors high fives Shaun Livingston #34 as he is introduced to the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 8, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 08: Kevin Durant #35 (R) of the Golden State Warriors high fives Shaun Livingston #34 as he is introduced to the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on April 8, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

4/10 Utah vs. Golden State

7:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 58-23

Season series: Jazz lead 2-1

Despite the fact that the Golden State Warriors are coming off a win over the lowly Phoenix Suns, things have been less than rosy for them of late. Between an onslaught of injuries that has kept each of their All-Stars out at varying points, including Stephen Curry who’s slated to miss the first round of the playoffs, as well as a presumed lack of focus, the defending champs have looked less than sharp lately.

Prior to the win over Phoenix, they had lost two in a row and six of their last ten. Of course, even with Steph Curry out of action, the trio of Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson is still extremely deadly, and if they are all playing and logging typical minutes, this will be an extreme challenge for the Jazz.

Still, it should be noted that all three of them played in the recent losses to the Indiana Pacers and New Orleans Pelicans. Curry’s absence certainly hurts the Warriors, but in some ways those victories felt more like ‘boredom’ losses than anything. This team will be ready come playoff time and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

Utah has played relatively well against the Warriors this year, with a dominant 129-99 win over a full-strength squad back in January and a commanding victory over a banged-up version back in March. With that being the case, I like their chances against this Curry-less Warriors team, especially since there’s a good chance that head coach Steve Kerr rests his starters, or they come out less than focused.

If such is the case, I can see Utah winning quite handily. If not, it will be a closely contested bout that truly could go either way. Aside from a potential desire for revenge from the past two meetings, the lone motivator that Golden State will have in Tuesday’s contest is trying to finish with a better record than the East-leading Toronto Raptors in case the two squads end up playing one another in the Finals.

That may not turn out to be all that important to them, though, as the best the Warriors can do is reach 59 wins whereas the Raptors can get to 60 with remaining contests against the Detroit Pistons on Monday and Miami Heat on Wednesday, both of which they should win.

With all this adding up, I’m going to go out on a limb and pin the Jazz as winners in what will be a crucial contest for their home court advantage hopes, but of little consequence for a Warriors team that’s already solidified in second place. Predicting the score is tough without knowing for sure who all is going to suit up for Golden State, so I’ll go with a close battle, just in case.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 104, Golden State 102

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