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- Utah Jazz starting point guard Mo Williams will miss his second straight game after suffering a severely sprained right thumb against the Miami Heat on Friday. Nine-year veteran Jamaal Tinsley will start in his place. The Jazz will miss Williams’ ability to score, but they are 4-1 when he sits out. “Jamaal Tinsley is a proven guy. He’s hurt us in the past,” said Golden State coach Mark Jackson. “(He’s a) New York City guy who’s crafty (who) understands how to play, makes everyone around him better and competes. We understand that we have our hands full.”
- Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, who is listed as day-to-day after missing the team’s shootaround this morning, will start against the Jazz. Thompson has been hot for Golden State, hitting at least three 3-pointers in each of his last four games. “He’s fine,” Jackson said. “He’s here, he’s healthy and looking forward to getting back on the floor.”
- The Jazz are back home after a tough road trip and short break. Utah played four straight road games, culminating with a win over Orlando on Saturday, before getting Christmas Eve and Christmas off. Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said his team will need to shake off some rust after holding a shootaround this morning. “We needed some rest,” Corbin said. “We had an opportunity to get together this morning. It concerns you a little bit because you get out of your routine. These guys have been great at responding. We have to come out and try and get out to a great start. … We want to give our fans a good Christmas gift by getting a good win here.”
- This is the first meeting of the season between the Jazz and much-improved Warriors. Golden State is 10-6 on the road and off to its best start since the 1991-92 season. The Warriors haven’t lost back-to-back games in December and are coming off a loss to the Lakers on Saturday night. Corbin knows his team is in for a difficult matchup tonight, and said controlling the pace will be a big factor in the game. “We have to be who we are,” Corbin said. “We can’t afford to get into a pace (the Warriors prefer). They want to go up and down the floor and they’re going to take a lot of 3′s, a lot of early jump shots.”
– Andrew Aragon
