Jazz vs Warriors Picks and Predictions: Utah Takes Care of Business in the Bay

The Utah Jazz (46-31, 5th in the West) snapped their five-game losing streak with their win over the Lakers on Thursday night.

Tonight they will face off against a Golden State Warriors team (48-29, 3rd in the West) looking to follow suit, having lost four straight and seven of their last eight.

Both teams have faced extended stretches of less than ideal results this season due to injuries, and are looking to generate momentum in the final stretch of regular season games ahead of the playoffs.

Here are our free NBA picks and predictions for the Jazz vs. Warriors matchup on Saturday, April 2.

Jazz vs Warriors odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Jazz opened as 1.5 point favorites and have since moved to -2. The total opened at 219.5 and has slowly crept down to 218.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Jazz vs Warriors predictions

• Prediction: Jazz -2 (-110)
• Prediction: Under 218 -2 (-110)
• Best bet: Jazz -2 (-110)

Predictions made on 04/02/2022 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Jazz vs Warriors game info

• Location: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
• Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022
• Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC Sports Bay Area, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain

Jazz vs Warriors betting preview

Key injuries

Jazz: Hassan Whiteside C (Questionable), Udoka Azubuike C (Out), Trent Forrest G (Out). 
Warriors: Steph Curry G (Out), James Wiseman C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Utah is played 22-16-1 (57.7%) to the Under in away games and Golden State is 23-14-2 (61.5%) to the Under in home games. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Warriors.

Jazz vs Warriors picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

Once upon a time, the Warriors were 41-13 and there was serious buzz that they were once again a very serious threat to win the Finals.

Since then, Golden State is 7-16 straight up amidst injuries to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, as well as streaky performances from the returning Klay Thompson as he has tried to navigate the size and look of his role.

Their play as of late has been especially concerning, losing to the likes of San Antonio, Orlando, and Washington, plus a 22 point loss to the Celtics and a 28 point loss to the Grizzlies.

If there was ever any doubt about Curry's impact and gravity on offense, Golden State is 27th in net rating during his absence (last played on March 16th), on the back of ranking 29th in offensive rating while still managing a league-average mark in defensive rating (14th).

The Jazz hit their snag earlier, having started 28-10 prior to a 2-11 skid during the entire month of January. They managed a 15-5 record following that stretch, largely on the back of increased health throughout their lineup.

Utah then went on a five-game skid and while losing for extended stretches is never great, it at least lost to a collection of playoff teams (Nets, Celtics, Hornets, Mavericks, and Clippers). That stretch was also entirely on the road and as soon as the Jazz returned home on Thursday for a game with the Lakers, that losing streak ended.

But Utah is back on the road for this matchup with the Warriors, and if it wants to be taken seriously as a playoff threat given their repeated disappointments over the past few years, they need to show that they can win road games against formidable competition.

A key component for Saturday will be that they rank above league average in defending the three, and the Warriors attempt the third-most per game. The Jazz also possess an important edge on the glass, ranking second in the league this year in rebounding rate.

If Utah can keep the Warriors' perimeter success within a manageable range and can secure the rebounding edge, they should be able to navigate a win on Saturday.

Prediction: Jazz -2 (-110 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

Utah is the second-friendliest Under team in road games, playing 22-16-1 (57.7%) that way in away games.

Golden State is the third-friendliest Under team in home games, playing 23-14-2 (61.5%) that way from the confines of the Chase Center.

The Warriors' aforementioned struggles on the offensive side of the ball have produced Unders as of late as well, playing 8-4 to the Under in their last 12. In the previous three matchups between these two, they have gone Under twice and went Under by 30 and 32 points in those games.

All trends point towards the Under hitting in this spot. 

Prediction: Under 218 (-110 at DraftKings)

Best bet

There isn't really any good argument as of late as to why Golden State should be considered competition amongst the NBA's better teams. And to that point, being home underdogs while being third in the Western Conference speaks volumes on its own.

Yes, the Jazz have had their fair share of struggles as of late against playoff-caliber teams, but the Warrior's losses have come against piss-poor competition comparatively.

Donovan Mitchell in particular is due to turn in a good performance against the Warriors, as he has shot 9-33 (27.3%) from the field in his last two games against Golden State. In his prior seven games against the Warriors, he has scored 23+ in each game and has managed to shoot a much better 45.7% from the field and 41.0% from deep.

Pick: Jazz -2 (-110 at DraftKings)

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