
The Utah Jazz have enjoyed over three years of home dominance against Golden State.
Much lesser teams have been able to defend their home courts versus the Warriors this past week.The struggling Jazz look to get a boost from a game against the Warriors at EnergySolutions Arena as the teams start their season series Monday night.
Losers of four of six, Utah (19-15) is in need of a spark and a home game against Golden State (10-25) could get it back on track.
The Jazz have won eight straight at home versus the Warriors, including three games en route to winning a Western Conference semifinal series in 2007. Golden State's last win at Utah was on Nov. 25, 2005, 94-90.
Last season, the Jazz averaged 123.0 points en route to winning all three of their contests against the Warriors, shooting 58.1 percent (25-for-43) from 3-point range.
Golden State, allowing 111.3 points per game, appears to be in no shape to stop Utah this time, either.
The Warriors have been particularly bad in their last two games, allowing an average of 111.0 points in road losses to Oklahoma City and Minnesota - teams with a combined 12-55 record.
Golden State, playing the finale of a three-game trip, has lost five straight on the road, where it is 4-18 on the season.
"These are games that we should win, I feel that we should win, and we're not winning them," Warriors swingman Stephen Jackson said. "We have a lot of work to do. Guys have to kind of look themselves in the mirror to figure out what we have to do together to win these games, especially on this road trip."
Golden State will face a Utah team that has been mediocre since Carlos Boozer went down with a left knee injury, going 11-11. Boozer is scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery Friday, and will miss at least another month.
Paul Millsap, meanwhile, has returned for Utah after missing three games with a strained left leg ligament. He had 16 points and 17 rebounds in a 113-100 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Millsap has double-doubles in 16 of his last 17 games. The third-year forward has flourished this season, averaging career bests of 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Golden State was without a couple of starting forwards in its last game, with Brandan Wright and Corey Maggette sitting out a 115-108 loss to Minnesota on Friday night.
Wright missed the game with a sprained wrist and Maggette has missed 15 straight contests with a hamstring injury. Both players have a good chance to return in this game, and the Warriors can certainly use the help.
Golden State entered its last game first in the league in blocks and tied for first in second-chance points, third in points in the paint and fourth in offensive rebounds. But the Wolves outscored the Warriors 52-42 in the paint, 17-16 in second-chance points, 23-5 in transition and held a 17-10 edge on the offensive glass.
"We've got to try and get some consistency going. Guys have to grow up fast," Jackson said. "Guys have to get their stuff going and stop looking at the next person to do this. Everybody has to be accountable."