The Golden State Warriors search to experience the momentum of a record-breaking opener once they go for a second consecutive season-opening street win in opposition to the Utah Jazz on Friday night time in Salt Lake Metropolis.
The Warriors set franchise data for factors in a street opener and margin of victory in any season debut once they thrashed the Portland Path Blazers 139-104 on Wednesday night time.
The sport featured glowing Golden State debuts for Buddy Hield, whose 22 factors had been the second-most in franchise historical past by a Warrior off the bench in his first sport for the group, in addition to Kyle Anderson, Lindy Waters III and De’Anthony Melton, who mixed for 20 factors.
In all, seven Golden State gamers scored in double figures and 6 made no less than two 3-pointers as Stephen Curry celebrated his franchise-record sixteenth opening night time as a Warrior.
Golden State holdover Andrew Wiggins, whose 20 factors had been two shy of Hield’s team-high complete, famous afterward there’s extra totally different about his staff this season than only a handful of recent faces.
“I believe we bought the deepest staff within the league. I believe it may work out nice for us,” he stated. “Our level of emphasis is to run. If you play quick, guys are going to get drained. I really feel like when the bench is available in, they don’t seem to be going to overlook a beat.”
Within the Jazz, the Warriors can be dealing with a staff it swept 4-0 within the season sequence final yr. Golden State has gained 5 straight in opposition to Utah.
The Jazz battled Memphis to the wire earlier than falling 126-124 of their opener at dwelling on Wednesday. The sport was tied at 116 with 2:48 remaining earlier than the guests took the lead for good.
Lauri Markkanen, reportedly one in all Golden State’s major targets in an try and reshape its roster within the offseason, paced Utah with 35 factors within the opening loss.
Jazz coach Will Hardy took time afterward to reward Walker Kessler (16 factors, 14 rebounds) and Taylor Hendricks (12 factors, 3-for-5 on 3-pointers) as properly in a promising season opener for a rebuilding franchise.
“It is humorous, you lose by two and it does not really feel good, however I actually did really feel like there was extra good than dangerous in that sport,” Hardy stated. “A bunch of our younger gamers performed properly. Walker had a terrific sport. I believed Taylor was nice. Lauri was a beast tonight.
“The margins are skinny within the NBA between profitable and shedding. We’ll get again to the gymnasium, watch some movie, and off we go.”
One space of concern for the Jazz should be perimeter protection. After watching the Grizzlies bomb in 17 3-pointers at a 37.8 p.c clip, Utah will subsequent see a Golden State staff that went 20-for-48 (41.7 p.c) in its opener at Portland.
Hield (5-for-7) and Wiggins (4-for-7) led the Warriors’ long-range barrage. Curry hit three of seven from deep whereas going for 17 factors and a close to triple-double (10 assists, 9 rebounds) in simply 25 minutes.
–Subject Stage Media
