The Golden State Warriors entered their final game of the season’s first half in a slightly precarious situation. After losing a heartbreaking and debilitating game to the LA Clippers the night before, the Dubs hopped on a flight to Salt Lake City for a recently-scheduled makeup game. Accounting for the travel and the time difference, the Warriors didn’t get into Utah until 4:00 a.m. local time.
And they desperately needed a win to enter the week-long All-Star break on a high note, and with a winning record. Before the game even started, the Warriors made a little bit of noise, as Klay Thompson was moved to the bench for the first time since his rookie season, with Brandin Podziemski replacing him in the starting five.