Warriors take care of tanking Jazz behind Podziemski, Schroder – Paradise Post

Warriors take care of tanking Jazz behind Podziemski, Schroder – Paradise Post

SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors won 10 of 30 games after starting the season 12-3, a startling fall that has sunk them below .500.

But the Jazz have 10 wins all season.

Utah isn’t particularly interested in winning this season, and that’s even before injuries depleted their roster at Chase Center.

Playing against what resembled a G League roster, the Warriors didn’t need Steph Curry (injury management), Draymond Green (calf) and Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) to outlast Utah. It wasn’t a particularly inspiring win, but a 114-103 victory nonetheless.

Dennis Schroder (23 points) scored his most points in a game as a Warrior and Brandin Podziemski (20 points, seven rebounds, six assists) was stellar, continuing his solid play since returning last week from an abdominal strain. They were two of five Warriors in double figures, overcoming 30 points from Collin Sexton. Golden State (23-23) never trailed after the second quarter, though its lead got hairy in the fourth.

The Warriors fell behind 17-7 in the first four minutes, but finished the first quarter on a 20-10 run. Neither team looked particularly sharp, which wasn’t surprising given the talent level on the floor.

Golden State forced the Jazz into six first-quarter turnovers, but often struggled to convert on the other end. They fumbled a 2-on-1 fast break, Kevon Looney smoked a rip-six layup and Podziemski got called for a travel on what should’ve been a transition and-1.

The most dangerous player on the floor looked like Sexton, the Jazz combo guard who seemed to get to the rim with ease. He scored eight quick points before Steve Kerr summoned Gary Payton II to check him.

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The Warriors took control with a 9-0 run to start the second quarter. Podziemski pushed the pace, Quinten Post spaced the floor and Dennis Schroder made an impact.

Sexton was Utah’s only reliable source of consistent offense. He played for stretches alongside Micah Potter, Svi Mykhailiuk and Kyle Flipowski — a two-way player, a partially guaranteed veteran and a 21-year-old second rounder. Sexton dropped 20 points in the first half on 9-for-12 shooting as no other Jazz player cracked double figures.

Podziemski and Schroder powered the Warriors to an 11-point halftime lead, combining for 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Without Curry, Green and Kuminga, they picked up the scoring and playmaking slack.

Schroder, shortly after hitting his third 3 and in the middle of one of his most productive games as a Warrior, got helped to the locker room. He immediately grabbed his left knee after landing on a drive. Minutes later, he returned to the bench with his left ankle wrapped in ice. He stretched it out with a band, shedded the wrap and returned to the game before the third quarter expired.

Source: Paradise Post