Be sure to check injury report as players are being announced out late due to back to back games and sickness and these picks could be subject to change!
Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are currently the hottest team in the league as they look to extend their winning streak to nine games.
The Jazz are on the best teams from deep. They are shooting almost 17 threes pointers a game which is ranked 1st in the league and make them at a 40.3% clip which is ranked 2nd on the league. They are also winning behind their excellent rebounding and currently 2nd in the league at this category. The Jazz have a high powered offense and an equally great defense.
Their offense is led by their star shooting guard Mitchell. Mitchell is shooting 43% and 40.8% from deep showing that he is effective everywhere on the floor and can get the open shot. Mitchell is averaging 24.3 PPG, 4.9 APG, and 3.9 RPG.
Their other offensive weapon comes off the bench in Clarkson who is averaging 17.7 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 4.6 RPG. Clarkson takes advantage off the other team’s bench and allows them to maintain their lead when their starters are resting. Clarkson is also shooting at a 48.5% from the floor and 41.8% from range. Clarkson would be worth an early Sixth Man of the Year wager.
Coupled with their excellent offensive prowess from deep, is Gobert holding down the paint averaging a double-double on 12.3 PPG and 13.5 RPG shooting around 60%. Gobert is one the best paint defenders in the league and capable of limiting or completely neutralizing the other team’s best center, forcing their guards to best them.
The Warriors have turned their play around and are starting to find their chemistry without Klay. They dropped their last game to the Knicks and are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Warriors have had trouble getting open this year, and are 22nd in field goal percentage and 23rd in the league from deep. A far cry from the team who ushered in the three-point wave in the league.
However, Curry is showing he’s still a superstar point guard behind his 28.2 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.5 RPG. Curry has had a tough time getting open from three and is only shooting 37% from range. As one of the best three-point shooters in the league, teams can get wins by honing in their three-point defense limiting his scoring capability.
Wiggins has gotten better we the season has gone on, he was one of the worst shooters from deep in the league but is currently hitting from a higher clip than Steph at 39%. Wiggins is averaging 17.7 PPG, 2.4 APG, and 5.0 RPG. Wiggins and Green are the main defenders on this team and will need to be at their best to defeat the Jazz.
The Jazz is -6.5 favorites at home. An 8 game winning streak brings out the best in every team they play as the other team wants to be the team that can end it. The Warriors do not rely on their big man to provide a ton of scoring eliminating Gobert’s defensive capability. The Jazz will have to rely on their guards playing excellent defense. Coupled with their recent loss to the Knicks, the Warriors will be giving maximum effort and will cover the +6.5 but will most likely lose this game as the Jazz will continue their winning streak.
Warriors +6.5
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