OAKLAND – In their final home game before the All-Star break, the Warriors on Tuesday night confront an old adversity daring to get uppity.
Though Utah is 8.5 games behind the Warriors in the Western Conference standings, it has reason to believe it can hang with the defending champs at Oracle Arena – especially if Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, both listed as questionable, are not able to play.
Coverage on NBC Sports Bay Area begins at 6:00 p.m. PT with Warriors Outsiders, followed by Warriors Pregame. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:35.
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SIGN UP HERE Though the Warriors (40-15) have spent four weeks tightening their grip on the top spot in the West, they have had as much trouble with the Jazz as with any team in the conference, losing five of the last seven meetings in the regular season.
The teams are 1-1 this season, with the Warriors squeaking out a 124-123 win on Oct. 19 and Jazz posting a 108-103 victory Dec. 19. Both games were in Utah.
The Jazz (32-24) have had to overcome an unforgiving early schedule, with 19 of their first 31 games on the road. They were 14-17 during that span but have since gone 18-7 to get back in the postseason race.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Golden State Warriors
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Warriors:
F Kevin Durant
F Draymond Green (questionable)
C DeMarcus Cousins
G Klay Thompson
G Stephen Curry
Jazz:
F Joe Ingles
F Derrick Favors
C Rudy Gobert
G Donovan Mitchell
G Ricky Rubio
[RELATED: Draymond, Iguodala troll Rudy Gobert for crying over All-Star snub]
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: F Draymond Green (R knee contusion) and F/G Andre Iguodala (L hamstring tightness) are listed as questionable. G Jacob Evans III (L pelvic soreness) and C Damian Jones (L pectoral surgery) are listed as out.
Jazz: C Tony Bradley (R knee surgery) and G Dante Exum (L ankle sprain) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: If Green is ruled out, either PF Jonas Jerebko or C/F Kevon Looney is the likely replacement in the starting lineup. F/C Jordan Bell was Green’s most recent replacement starter (1/28 at IND) but has played in only three of five games since.. . . If Iguodala is ruled out, the bulk of his minutes will be divided between reserves PG Shaun Livingston and F Alfonzo McKinnie.. . . Durant scored 38 and 32 points in the first two meetings, while Curry scored 32 and 31 points in those games.. . . The Warriors continue to lead the league in offensive rating (116.1) but rank 15th in defensive rating (108.7).
Jazz: The Jazz generally use a nine-man rotation, with F Jae Crowder, G Kyle Korver, F Royce O’Neal and PG Raul Neto coming off the bench. Crowder has been particularly effective.. . . The bench ranks second in the NBA in 3-point makes (312), with Crowder (102) and Korver (97) leading the way.. . . Mitchell’s 22.4 ppg leads all second-year players.. . . The Warriors have been vulnerable to lob threats, and Gobert, at 7-foot-1, is among the best. He also leads the NBA in defensive real plus-minus.. . . The Jazz are fourth in defensive rating (105.3), 19th in offensive rating (108.4), 26th in free throw shooting (73.3 percent) and 24th in 3-point shooting (34.5).
Officials: Josh Tiven (chief), Curtis Blair, JB DeRosa.