It's win or stay home for the Utah Jazz in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are already up 3-0 and a win tonight ensures the series won't be heading back to California for Game 5. No team has ever come back to win a series after trailing 3-0, but can the Jazz at least avoid a sweep? Here's our preview and prediction for tonight's game.
Game Info:
When: 89 PM EST
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: TNT
Spread: Warriors by 8.5
O/U: 208
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
Warriors Emphasizing Fast Start In Game 4 (SF Chronicle)
Klay Thompson Due For A Breakout Game (CSN Bay Area)
Warriors' Bob Myers Wants Steve Kerr To Get His Life Back (San Jose Mercury News)
What They're Saying About The Utah Jazz:
George Hill A Game-Time Decision For Game 4 (Salt Lake Tribune)
It Won't Be Easy Finishing Off The Jazz (Deseret News)
On The Brink Of Elimination, Time Is Running Out For The Jazz (FanSided)
Key To The Game: How Does Golden State Start?
In each of the first three games, the Warriors have held a double-digit lead. The Jazz, to their credit, have battled back each time and made it a game. But those comeback efforts are tiring, especially when they come up short. If the Jazz fall behind big again in first, do they have the energy to comeback again?
There's pride involved, but at a certain point there's a resigning to the fact that no one has come from down 3 game to 0. That moment could happen to the Jazz early in Game 4 if the Warriors start hot. Kevin Durant embraced the villain role in Game 3, when he became fed up with Rudy Gobert. There's an old saying of "never piss off a great player." If Durant comes out angry and plays like it, the Warriors might run away with this one early.
Prediction: Warriors win 111-98
The Warriors get off to a solid start, but the Jazz once again find a way to hang around. But after three games of playing catchup, it all becomes too much for the Jazz. The Warriors go on a classic Warriors run in the third quarter to bury the Jazz for good by breaking their spirit.