Jazz Battling for Playoff Place, Warriors for Wins Record

A handful of NBA Western Conference teams are battling to reach the playoffs, while others have already clinched a berth. On Wednesday, two of those teams meet when the Golden State Warriors visit the Utah Jazz. The current line has Golden State favored by 5 points with the over/under point total on 205.

On the season, Golden State has an overall record of 67-7 straight up and 40-32 against the spread. On the road, the Warriors are 31-7 SU and 21-15 ATS.

Utah on the season has an overall record of 37-37 SU and ATS. At home, the Jazz is 23-13 SU and 20-16 ATS.

Golden State tied its franchise record for victories set last year of 67 and looks to move closer to the league record of single season wins of 73 with a win tonight. The Warriors beat Washington Tuesday and must go 6-2 over their last eight games during the regular season to break the record.

Stephen Curry, the Warriors MVP point guard said players on the team are now thinking of the record following Tuesday’s win over Washington. However, Golden State faces a Utah team that has won 8 of its last 10 games overall and has reached seventh place in the playoff hunt.

Utah is just one game in front of ninth place Dallas, with the first eight places going to the postseason. Rodney Hood a shooting guard for Utah scored 30 points in just the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers, as the Jazz won by 48 points.

Golden State enters this game on a 5-game winning streak having won 12 of its past 13 overall. Curry had 26 points on Tuesday and with 44 more 3-point baskets will become the first player in the NBA to make 400 in one season.

Klay Thompson the Warriors shooting guard averaged over 37 points per game in three games prior to the Washington game in which he scored just 16.

Golden State is 3-0 versus Utah this season. The Warriors have been victorious in 10 of their past 11 games versus the Jazz.

Utah’s defense has limited 6 of its past 8 opponents to 87 points or less.

Golden State has won 16 of its past 18 in the second game of back-to-back sets during the season.

Prediction:  Utah is battling for its playoff life while Golden State is looking at setting a new wins record. Playing in Utah at a high altitude affects players, especially on the back half of back to back games. The lean here is toward Utah to cover.