The Golden State Warriors head to Salt Lake City on Monday night for a Western Conference clash with the Utah Jazz. The Warriors enter the game fighting to stay firmly inside the play-in tournament picture, while the Jazz remain in rebuilding mode and near the bottom of the conference standings. Before this contest tips off in Salt Lake City, I’ve got you covered with my Warriors vs Jazz prediction in the NBA.
Our Warriors vs Jazz Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz
- Date & Time: Monday, March 9, 9:00 PM ET
- Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Warriors arrive in Utah with a record hovering just above .500 and currently sitting in the middle of the Western Conference standings. Golden State has shown flashes of high-level offense throughout the season, averaging nearly 117 points per game. But losing Steph Curry due to injury for now, and Jimmy Butler for the remainder of the season, has hurt them from being as effective on offense lately.
Utah has had a far more difficult season. The Jazz have struggled to slow opposing offenses and are surrendering 125 points per game, one of the highest marks in the league. Despite some impressive individual performances from their young stars, defensive lapses and turnovers have made it difficult for Utah to close out games.
Key Players
Utah Jazz
- Keyonte George continues to develop into a reliable scoring guard, averaging about 24.6 points and 6.8 assists per game while handling a large share of the offense. With Lauri Markkanen out of action for the next few days, Utah will need George to have another huge game for them to win this contest at home.
- Isaiah Collier has been a nice surprise for the Jazz this year, averaging 7.3 assists per game to lead the team. With so many important players out, Utah needs him to create good looks for players who may not be accustomed to creating for themselves.
Golden State Warriors
- Draymond Green contributes across the board with about 5.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while directing the defense and facilitating the offense.
- Brandin Podziemski probably did not come into this year expecting to be the focal point of Golden State’s offense for any portion of this season. But with Curry and Butler out, that is exactly what he is and he will try to help the Warriors get a win on Monday night.
Stat Comparison
| Stat | Warriors | Jazz |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 115.0 | 117.4 |
| Points allowed per game | 113.9 | 125.0 |
| Team Field Goal % | 46% | 46% |
| Rebounds per game | 42.9 | 44.0 |
| Assists per game | 29.2 | 29.5 |
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Golden State has won the three meetings between the teams this season.
- All three of those Warriors wins this season have come by nine points or more.
- Golden State is 29-34 against the spread this season.
- Utah is 34-30 against the spread going into Monday night’s play.
Warriors vs Jazz Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
More NBA Picks
