SAN FRANCISCO — In a victorious night for the Golden State Warriors, Dennis Schroder delivered an impressive performance, scoring 23 points, including five 3-pointers. With Stephen Curry sidelined due to knee issues, Brandin Podziemski stepped up off the bench, contributing 20 points in the Warriors’ 114-103 victory against the struggling Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
Utah’s Collin Sexton mirrored his season-high by scoring 30 points, shooting 12-of-19 from the field. Unfortunately for the Jazz, this loss marked their seventh consecutive defeat and their tenth in the last eleven games.
Andrew Wiggins also made a noteworthy contribution, adding 19 points, while Golden State took advantage of Utah’s turnovers, scoring 12 points from them in the first quarter and a total of 26 points from those miscues throughout the game. Podziemski’s performance included not only scoring but also seven rebounds and six assists, effectively managing the point guard responsibilities in Curry’s absence. Kevon Looney recorded 11 rebounds, adding to the Warriors’ strong team effort.
Head coach Steve Kerr had anticipated Curry would return for the game against the Thunder scheduled for Wednesday. Before the game, Curry participated in a warm-up, but the medical team decided he should rest as a precaution due to tendinitis in both knees that has plagued him this season.
Key takeaways from the match include the fact that the Jazz have now lost seven straight contests against the Warriors and have failed to win at Golden State’s home arena in nine attempts, with their last victory there dated back to February 9, 2022.
For the Warriors, forward Draymond Green, sidelined with a strained left calf, missed his fifth consecutive game. However, he is expected to participate in parts of upcoming team practices this week. Jonathan Kuminga, who has been recovering from a sprained right ankle, will be re-evaluated in two weeks as he begins individual workouts after missing the last 12 games.
A crucial moment in the game occurred just before halftime when Podziemski managed to score five consecutive points, stretching the Warriors’ lead to 62-51 at the break.
The Warriors showcased excellent ball control, recording only nine turnovers throughout the game.
Looking ahead, the Jazz will return home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night, while the Warriors will complete their homestand against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
