The Golden State Warriors will face the Utah Jazz on February 15 (Thursday) at the Delta Center Arena. This will be the last meeting between the teams this season before the 2024 All-Star break. The Warriors are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 26-26 record. They defeated the Utah Jazz 129-107 in their previous meeting on Monday. Golden State got that win on the road, so they are in a bonus with two of their next three games against the Jazz at Chase Center.
Preview
The Warriors had their five-match winning streak broken in their last match against the LA Clippers. They dominated most of the game until a defensive failure in the fourth quarter resulted in a 130-125 loss. The Warriors took a 15-point lead in the second half. They displayed great focus earlier, taking the score to 8-3. However, the Warriors have been prone to losing focus in the past, so only time will tell whether the loss to the Clippers will lead to another slump.
Meanwhile, the Jazz have faced ups and downs since their six-game winning streak ended in early January. They have registered only four wins in 13 games since then. Utah’s defense has declined drastically since then. Their rating is 125.5, which is last in the NBA over that period. Utah needs to use their big men better, especially against opponents like the Warriors, who may struggle against bigger teams. Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Walker Kessler will have important roles in the upcoming game.
Starting lineup
The Warriors are expected to start with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green. While the Jazz are expected to start with Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, John Collins and Walker Kessler.
Betting tips & Prediction
Stephen Curry has been averaging 33.9 points per game over his last 10 games and has scored 29 points or more in the last four games, so he is favored to score more than 29.5 points in the upcoming contest. He made 6.9 three-pointers ppg in February and at least nine triples in three of his last four games. He is also favored to make under 5.5 3s.
Meanwhile, Lauri Markkanen is favored to score more than 21.5 points. He has scored at least 22 points in three of his last five games but has not surpassed that total in his last two games. Betting under on his total points will be better.
Also Read: Milwaukee Bucks vs Memphis Grizzlies: Prediction (2024)
The Golden State Warriors are favorites to win against the Jazz as they are in much better form. Even after the defeat against the LA Clippers, the Warriors were great for 90% of the game. Meanwhile, the Jazz have been outplayed in almost all of their last 13 games.
