2 min read • January 01, 2022
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Advantage: Jazz
When the Warriors head to Utah to face the Jazz on Saturday in a matchup of the West's No. 1 and No. 3 seeds, they will do so without defense stalwart Draymond Green, according to head coach Steve Kerr.
Green was placed in health and safety protocols on Dec. 26, meaning even under the newly-adopted accelerated timeline he would not be able to return by Jan. 1 simply by isolating. Kerr said on Friday he doesn't expect the 31-year-old to be cleared in time to re-join Stephen Curry and co.
The Jazz, meanwhile, will have Donovan Mitchell back from a lower back strain, Mike Conley fresh after a scheduled rest day on Friday, and no players currently in protocols. Joe Ingles is listed as day-to-day with his own lower back strain, and is questionable for Friday's game versus Minnesota, but the injury is not serious.
Utah has been remarkably healthy this year: 8 of its top 9 scorers have played at least 31 of 35 possible games heading into Saturday.
One important piece returning for Golden State is guard Jordan Poole, who has missed the last 6 games and was set to play Thursday night in Denver before the contest was postponed.
The 22-year-old, who is 3rd on the team in scoring at 17.9 ppg, will have the added challenge of playing in Salt Lake City, which, at 4,226 feet, is the 2nd-highest home-court elevation in the NBA. Finding his wind going toe-to-toe with the high-powered Jazz offense will be even more difficult.
The Warriors remain without Klay Thompson and James Wiseman as each are slowly making their way back from serious injuries. Damion Lee is also out after testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 22.
Secondary Advantage: Jazz Coaching Staff
The Warriors are also dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak in their coaching staff, as top assistants Mike Brown and Chris DeMarco are in protocols. Kenny Atkinson, meanwhile, has yet to be cleared for travel after recently returning from a leg injury he suffered in late October, according to The Athletic's Anthony Slater.
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