The party might be over for the Golden State Warriors as they head into Game-Five of the NBA Western Conference semifinals tonight against the Utah Jazz. Golden State, the feel-good story of the 2007 regular season playoffs run and first-round victor over top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, is in danger of elimination as they travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utah Jazz down 1-3 in the best of seven games series. The bottom line for tonight is quite simple: Win and force a Game-Six at Oracle Arena or lose and the season’s over.
After falling to the Warriors by 20 in Game-Three, the Jazz bounced back in a big way in Game-Four and will now return to Utah for Game Five with a two game series lead after topping Golden State, 115-101, on Sunday.
Utah dominated down low with Carlos Boozer running the show. Boozer finished with game highs in points (34) and rebounds (12) and helped the Jazz hold a 50-32 edge in points in the paint.
Derek Fisher, who struggled in Game-Three, scored 14 of his 21 in the final quarter to help the Jazz lead by as many as 16 in the closing minutes. Deron Williams finished with 20 points, 13 assists and six rebounds. Mehmet Okur scored 14 and grabbed seven boards, while Andrei Kirilenko added 12 and eight.
Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington scored 24 apiece to lead the Warriors, who dropped their first home game of the playoffs. Baron Davis netted 15 points, dished out seven assists and recorded four steals.
Most online sportsbooks show Utah as a slight – 4 ½ point side favorite with a money line cost of -210. The total is currently holding at 216 ½. The total has gone OVER in 3-of-4 of the playoff games played between Utah and Golden State.
The Jazz have won 5-of-6 games straight up and is 7-1-1 against the spread in their last nine games. The Jazz have gone 5-0 SU in their last five games at home.
I expect the Jazz to get physical inside with their trio of big men and move on to the conference finals against the winner of the Spurs and Suns series.
