In a game billed as a big test for both teams, it’s always nice when the actual contest lives up to the hype. The Golden State Warriors took a nice healthy lead into halftime, got blasted in the third quarter, but then closed out strong. It was a nice win on the Utah Jazz’s homecourt for a Warriors team that was missing two of their most important stars.

A very impressive, very tough win.

Anthony Slater @anthonyVslater

The Warriors won in Phoenix against a fully stocked Suns team on Christmas without Wiggins/Poole. They beat a fully stocked Jazz team tonight in Utah without Draymond Green. Record: 28-7. Klay Thompson's return is "very close."

4:31 AM ∙ Jan 2, 2022

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Thank god we aren’t doing Warrior Wonder anymore, because I’m not sure who I’d give it to. Andrew Wiggins was absolutely phenomenal, his “Two Way Wiggs” moniker is so well deserved, but tonight it was his offense that shone. Without Green, and Poole looking a little rusty, it was Wiggins that kept the team afloat when Curry was on the bench.

Kelly O'Meara Morales @_itskellyo

Andrew Wiggins is also giving Utah problems off the dribble

3:01 AM ∙ Jan 2, 2022

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Also, I wanted to point out something else we saw in this game that reflects on a comment made in our preview about how the Jazz seem to have developed a pattern of regular season excellence, only to get picked apart in the postseason.

While Utah does an excellent job with their defensive rotations, having a guy like Gobert who is responsible for so much, and yet so slow of foot is exactly the sort of bump that an opponent is going to pick at relentlessly.

Kelly O'Meara Morales @_itskellyo

Kevon Looney is going to have career-high scoring averages in a series against Utah if Rudy Gobert has to come out to guard Steph Curry in high-pick and-rolls. Here are two Looney buckets on the roll:

2:51 AM ∙ Jan 2, 2022

Nice start to 2022!

The Warriors will head home, take a day off and then return to action at home Monday when they host another tough team: the Miami Heat.

As always, this is just a quick fresh thread for our community, DNHQ regular coverage will resume in the morning.

Player and Coach interviews?

I saw someone ask about this somewhere else, but does the DNHQ have an appetite for postgame interview sound clips? I’ve included some links below and highlighted a couple that stuck out. Let me know if you love, hate, or are indifferent to it.

For post game interviews, go to the Warriors Soundcloud some good quotes tonight from Iguodala on Otto Porter, and also Wiggins talking about Klay Thompson’s return will bring a smile to your face.