The Jazz need this win to stay alive, although clearly their season will be ending in this series, whether it be next time out or within the next few games.
Utah would much prefer playing the same type of style as Game 3, slowing the game down to avoid the type of runs that the Warriors can put together when they are regularly getting out in transition. The Jazz have found the formula to set themselves up with a chance at beating Golden State and need to follow it once again in Game 4.
The Warriors, meanwhile, don’t want to get stuck in that rut, knowing they have more firepower and would benefit from extra possessions in the contest.
This war on the floor will go down Monday, May 8, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be televised live on ABC.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Monday schedule.
NBA Odds
The Warriors were 6.5-point favorites in Game 3 and covered despite trailing by nine points in the third quarter. The scoring total was set at 208.5, with the “under” being the correct choice as Utah was successfully able to slow this ballgame down.
Golden State is now 74-15 straight up and 44-41-4 against the spread. The Warriors have covered in 22 of 44 attempts against the spread on the road with one push, and are 42-40-1 against the spread as the favorite. Golden State has yet to be the underdog in the postseason and that doesn’t figure to change in this series.
Utah is 55-37 straight up and 44-45-3 against the spread. The Jazz has played in 45 home games and covered in 20 of them with three pushes. Utah is 15-18 against the spread as the underdog on the year.
Last Time Out
The Warriors shot just 43 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three-point range but were still able to grind out the 102-91 win, showing just how good they are by capturing a road victory despite struggling the whole way.
Kevin Durant had a big game for the Warriors, scoring 38 points and hauling down 13 rebounds. Andre Iguodala and Javale McGee gave nice boosts off the bench as Golden State’s starting lineup wasn’t as sharp as normal.
Utah’s two best players did what they could to keep the team in the game. Gordon Hayward finished with 29 points on 7-of-18 shooting and added five assists. Rudy Gobert was a key piece in the middle, scoring 21 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
Utah got almost nothing from its bench, as Joe Johnson and Rodney Hood were the only two players to score and they both shot poorly from the field.
Player To Watch
Stephen Curry -- The Golden State sharpshooter was anything but in Game 3, hitting only 6-of-20 from the field and 3-of-11 from three-point range. Curry finished the game with 23 points and four assists, both of which were below his season averages.
The Warriors have a big-time talent advantage, so the Jazz need games like this from Golden State’s stars in order to have a chance at the upset in Game 4. Some of it was Utah’s defense which helped keep Curry in check, while he also missed some shots he normally makes.
It’s hard to count on another bad game for Curry, as he is a career 47.6 percent shooter from the field and 43.8 percent from three-point range. Klay Thompson, the other half of the Splash Brothers, also struggled from the field in Game 3, knocking down only one of his nine shots for six points.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Warriors are clearly the more talented team and will be favored once again in Game 4. The Jazz played much better in Game 3 and will aim to carry that over, but it still didn’t result in a win.
While Golden State showed that it is human last time out, it figures to play better in this one. Choose the Warriors to shake off the road venue and come away with not only a victory but a cover of the spread as their stars should be able to shoot better in this one, which will make a big difference.
NBA Odds: Warriors 104, Jazz 96
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