The Warriors head to Salt Lake City for a Friday night tilt against the Jazz. Tipoff: 6 p.m.
Warriors at JazzFriday, December 136:00 p.m.
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DUBS HEAD TO UTAH ON FRIDAY
The Dubs take on the Utah Jazz for the third of four times this season on Friday night in Salt Lake City. Despite dropping the first two games of the season to the Jazz, the Warriors nearly completed a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback in their previous meeting less than one month ago. Seven Dubs scored in double figures in that game, including a combined 42 points from rookies Ky Bowman (17 points), Jordan Poole (13) and Eric Paschall (12).
NOTE THE GAME’S TIME CHANGE: The tipoff time for this game has recently been changed to 6 p.m., which may differ from what is on previously printed or digital schedules.
LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors overcame a 22-point deficit and forced overtime with a D'Angelo Russell 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, but the Dubs fell just short in Wednesday's 124-122 loss to the Knicks at Chase Center. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
LAST GAME'S STARTERS
GSW: D’Angelo Russell, Glenn Robinson III, Eric Paschall, Draymond Green and Willie Cauley-Stein
UTA: Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale and Rudy Gobert
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Stephen Curry (left hand fracture), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehab), Draymond Green (rest), Ky Bowman (G League assignment; two-way) and Alen Smailagic (G League assignment) are out. Eric Paschall (left hip soreness) is doubtful. Team Notes
UTA: Mike Conley (hamstring) is questionable. Team Notes
MARQUESE CHRISS DID IT ALL
Marquese Chriss, who came to the Warriors as a training camp invitee during the preseason, was doing everything in the Warriors’ loss to the New York Knicks as demonstrated by his final stat line with 12 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three blocks for his first double-double with the Dubs. His contributions were not just in statistical categories, but also in the hustle he brought on the floor: his energetic defense led to multiple defensive stops and transition scoring opportunities for the Dubs in the second half of Wednesday’s game, including a steal that led to his own slam dunk and a blocked shot that led to a D’Angelo Russell three-pointer with 2:45 left in the game. Chriss’ effort was best shown on the glass where six of his 10 rebounds were of the offensive, setting a new career high for the fourth year player.
TEAM LEADERS
UTAH SCOUTING REPORT
The Jazz prioritize defense over offense as the team only averages 106.7 points per game, but they have worked their way to a record of 14-11 because they hold their opponents to 106.4 points, the ninth best mark in the league. One reason for the strong defense comes from the interior presence of the seven-foot-one-inch Rudy Gobert who averages 2.2 blocks per game through his seven NBA seasons, and is currently averaging a career-high in rebounds (13.7). But just because Utah does not put up as many points as other teams does not mean they cannot score: despite taking 31.4 three point shots per game which is also among the lower third of the league, they make their deep shots at a rate of 38.3 percent. Leading the lethal three-point shooting is Bojan Bogdanovic who is in the midst of a career year with new highs in scoring (20.3 points per game), three-point shots made (3.1) and shooting percentage from deep (44.3). Working the boards and defending the three-point line have been two areas in which the Warriors happen to have struggled this season, too, which won’t make matters any easier on Friday.