Warriors at Jazz
THE STORY: Golden State is coming off an emotional and draining 120-98 loss as Monta Ellis returned to the Bay Area with the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. The Warriors will try to regroup in the second half of a back-to-back at Utah on Saturday night. The Jazz have won four in a row at home. The Warriors can only hope newly acquired Andrew Bogut is available soon. He is sidelined with a broken ankle.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (Warriors), Fox Sports SW (Jazz)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (18-23): The Warriors were beaten in almost every aspect by the Bucks. “They destroyed us. They treated us like we were their little brothers,” coach Mark Jackson said. “Any way you look to define being thoroughly outplayed and physically beaten up, we made a case for it.” The Warriors are 2-8 in their last 10 games in Utah. Guard Stephen Curry averages 14.7 points per game but he sat out Friday and is questionable with an ankle injury.
ABOUT THE JAZZ (21-22): Al Jefferson will miss weekend games against the Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers after the death of his grandmother. Derrick Favors will start for Jefferson. Favors shot just 2 of 9 in a 111-105 overtime win against Minnesota on Thursday, but had a career-high 16 rebounds, a dozen in the first half. “I was just trying to make stuff happen out there,” Favors said. “It’s all about being active.” Guard Earl Watson (sprained ankle) won’t play. He is expected back Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Utah Paul Millsap had 16 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high eight steals against Minnesota.
2. The Warriors’ 12 first-quarter points were a low for the opening period this season.
3. Milwaukee grabbed a season-best 54 rebounds and scored a season-high 120 points against Golden State.