Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Saturday, January 3, 2026
We've got more Western Conference magic in the New Year in this Jazz vs. Warriors prediction. Golden State (18-16) is currently ranked 8th in the Western Conference, while Utah (12-21) is out of the playoff and play-in mix while being ranked 12th. These teams will meet on Saturday night at 10 pm ET from San Francisco. The Warriors played OKC on Friday night, and those late results are not included in this write-up. The Jazz last played on New Year's Day, falling at the LA Clippers 118-101 as a 14-point underdog. Make sure you are ready for all the action with our free NBA Picks.
Sign Up for Winners and Whiners News Alerts, Get Exclusive Offers and Discounts
Subscribe Now
Struggles continue in Utah
Utah has lost two straight games, falling to the Clippers on the road and to Boston at home (129-119) on Dec. 30. Those losses came after they shocked Detroit (131-129) on Dec. 26 and the Spurs (127-114) on the road as a 14-point dog. The Jazz have now lost six of their last eight games, and it appears that they will either try and compete for a play-in spot or look to make a big trade before the deadline in February.
If Utah makes a trade, the player contending teams could look at is forward Lauri Markkanen, who is averaging 27.7 points and 7.0 rebounds, while shooting 47.3% from the field and 36.6% from long range. Guard Keyonte George is having a big season, averaging 24.6 points and 6.8 assists, while shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.4% from long range.
Utah's major issues start on the defensive side, where they are allowing 126.9 points per game to rank last in the league. Teams are also shooting 49.1% from the field against the (29th). According to DunksandThrees.com, they rank 17th in Adjusted Offensive Rating and 29th in Adjusted Defense.
In terms of injuries, Utah has George (illness) and Markkanen (knee) listed as questionable for this game. They both missed the New Year's Day game against the Clippers.
Warriors are still a dangerous team
Sure, Golden State has a team with a lot of players in their mid-thirties led by Steph Curry (37), Seth Curry (35), Jimmy Butler (36), Draymond Green (35), Buddy Hield (33) and Gary Payton II (33). But here they are, creeping up in the Western Conference after winning five of their last six games before the late-night result against OKC. The road record (8-12) is still a concern, but the Warriors are also 10-4 at home.
The Warriors also have a long list of injured or sick players, with Jonathan Kuminga (back), Jimmy Butler (illness), Steph Curry (ankle) and Green (rest) all out against the Thunder. Curry has always had foot and ankle issues so he'll miss 15-20 games per season. He's averaging 28.7 points per game on 46.8% shooting and 39.4% from beyond the arc. Butler adds 19.7 points and 4.9 assists, while shooting 51.6% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
According to DunksandThrees.com, the Warriors rank 8th in Adjusted Net Rating, 13th in Adjusted Offense and 4th in Adjusted Defense.
Spread Pick and Odds for Jazz vs. Warriors
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Jazz vs. Warriors Prediction and Picks
- Golden State to cover (4 units)
I won't gripe about the NBA and load management, so let's go! Let's assume that Steph Curry, Green and Butler were resting on Friday night. Had they played Friday night, they might have been fatigued trying to chase SGA and that much younger Thunder squad. Utah may be protecting Markkanen for trade value and George may play here. But the Warriors are coasting in this game at home. They are used to their older players sitting here and there. Despite their age, this is still a very good defensive team, while Utah is awful. Golden State ranks fourth in the league in three-point defense (34.3%). Take the home favorite.
- Over (4 units)
Golden State won the first game 134-117, which went well over the total of 239 and Curry had 31. Let's assume that at least one of those Utah players returns. The Jazz have gone over in seven of their last 10 games. The Warriors have gone over in four straight and five of their last six games.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose
