PREVIEW: Utah Jazz (31-37) Are NBA-Best 12-3 Since All-Star Break, Visit Golden State Warriors (55-13)

Utah Jazz (31-37) at Golden State Warriors (55-13)

Tip-off: Saturday, March 21st, 2015 – 7:30PM PDT

Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland CA

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive

Projected Starting Lineups:

Warriors

PG: Stephen Curry (23.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 8.0 APG)

SG: Justin Holiday (4.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.8 APG)

SF: Harrison Barnes (10.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.4 APG)

PF: Draymond Green (11.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.6 APG)

C: Andrew Bogut (6.2 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.6 APG)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr (55-13, .809)

Jazz

PG: Dante Exum (4.8 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.3 APG)

SG: Rodney Hood (7.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.4 APG)

SF: Gordon Hayward (19.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.2 APG)

PF: Derrick Favors (16.3 PPG, 8.2 APG, 1.5 APG)

C: Rudy Gobert (6.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.7 APG)

Head Coach: Quin Snyder (31-37, .456)

Last Times Out

LAST WARRIORS GAME: On Friday, 3/20/2015, the Warriors defeated the Pelicans, 112-96, as Barnes continued his strong performance in the absence of Klay Thompson (sprained ankle), with a team-high 22 points.

LAST JAZZ GAME: On Thursday, 3/19/2015, the Jazz defeated the Lakers, 80-73, in Los Angeles. Hayward scored 22 points and Trey Burke added 17 off the bench.

LAST WARRIORS-JAZZ MATCHUP: On 1/30/2015, the Jazz defeated the Warriors, 110-100, in Salt Lake City, as coach Snyder held his ground with his big lineup, out-rebounding the Warriors 55-41, as Hayward led the way with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists.

LAST WARRIORS-JAZZ MATCHUP AT ORACLE: On 11/21/2014, Golden State defeated Utah, 101-88, as Iguodala led all scorers with 17 points and the Warriors ran a clinic on the Jazz.

Game Notes

• “That defensive efficiency rating isn’t rivaled by Utah’s 102.4, but dating to Feb. 7, the Jazz (31-37) easily lead the league with a 91.3 mark while also leading in opponent field-goal percentage (39.8) and points per game (83.9). The stingy scoring average is better than next-best Indiana by 10.0 points, and the Jazz’s season mark of 94.7 is now the best in the league. Golden State’s 42.5 opponent percentage still leads the league.
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  After Thursday’s 80-73 road win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Jazz’s improvement has resulted in a 14-4 run while never allowing more than 100 points.
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  Gordon Hayward scored 22 points and is averaging 22.3 in his last seven games, but the recent surge will likely be too little too late with the Jazz still 7 1/2 games out of the Western Conference’s final playoff spot with 14 games remaining.
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  “We’re getting better as a group, and it’s definitely encouraging the way we’ve played,” Hayward said. “As far as playoffs are concerned, we’re not mathematically out yet and we’re going to fight every game.”
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  A little backcourt consistency could help push any remaining chances along. Starting guards Dante Exum and Rodney Hood went 0 for 11 against the Lakers. Hood has just 10 points in two games after averaging 18.3 over his previous four, while Exum has gone scoreless in consecutive games.
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  Demoted point guard Trey Burke, however, had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and is averaging 15.5 on 63.2 percent in his last two.” — Kevin Chroust, AP/STATS

• “Since the All Star Break, Utah is 12-3 with wins over San Antonio, Portland, Houston and at Memphis.” — Tim Roye, Warriors radio broadcaster

• “Gordon Hayward is posting averages of 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals vs. the Warriors this season.” — Roye