NBA Game Preview: Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz

Feb 9, 2022

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Game: Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz  

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET 

Odds:  Warriors +3, Jazz -3 

Total: 221.5 

Golden State puts its nine-game winning streak on the line tonight in Utah. The Jazz have won three in a row and are coming off a 113-104 win over New York on Monday night. Utah guard Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, had seven rebounds, and added six assists in the win over the Knicks. He will go up against Golden State’s Stephen Curry making tonight a matchup of two of the top scorers in the NBA.  

Curry and Mitchell are tied for eighth in the NBA in scoring. Both players average 25.7 points per game. Curry just missed a triple-double in the Warriors win over Oklahoma City on Monday night. The Golden State star scored 18 points, dished out 10 assists, and grabbed nine rebounds. Curry is averaging eight assists per game over the last five. With the absence of Draymond Green, Curry has become more involved in the offense as a facilitator. 

The Warriors and Jazz have played twice this season. Golden State has won both games. The last time the two met, Mitchell didn’t play and Curry had an off night as Golden State won 94-92 at home. Curry shot 5-of-20 and managed just 13 points. The entire Warriors starting five scored in double figures and the defense held Utah to just 38.3 percent (31-of-81) shooting. 

Green remains out indefinitely for Golden State. Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala are both out tonight and C Kevon Looney is listed as questionable. Rudy Gobert is out for Utah. That means either Hassan Whiteside or Udoka Azubuike will start at center for the Jazz. With Looney questionable, look for the Warriors to play small-ball to attack the Utah defense. 

While the Warriors have won nine straight, they have sacrificed some on the defensive end playing without Green. Golden State is still second in the NBA in scoring defense (102.6 ppg), but over their last ten games, they have allowed 106.9 points per game. The good news for the Warriors is that the offense has been outstanding averaging 116.2 points a game.  

The Jazz have the No. 2 offense in the NBA scoring 113.6 points a game. While they have won three straight, Utah is just 4-6 in its last ten games. They are also 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games and just 10-18 ATS when playing at home. The Warriors covered in each of their last two games, but they are just 2-4 ATS in their last six games.  

The total has gone Under in eight of Utah’s last 11 games. The Warriors trend Under as well with a 20-32-2 Over/Under record for the season and a 10-15 mark in road games. Interestingly enough, the Over is 8-1 in the last nine games between these two teams. That includes going Over in the last four straight. The Over is 6-1 in the last seven games when Golden State has been an underdog.