Warriors Look to Steady Form Against Slumping Jazz

Golden State's Kristaps Porzingis returns from illness as Utah continues to struggle

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Golden State Warriors, led by Brandin Podziemski and Draymond Green, will look to steady their form against the slumping Utah Jazz on Monday. Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis returned to action on Saturday after missing six games due to illness, providing a positive development for the team. Meanwhile, the Jazz have been playing short-handed in March and are still searching for victories, with leading scorer Keyonte George struggling with his shooting in their recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Warriors and Jazz is an important one as both teams look to find their footing in the Western Conference playoff race. The Warriors are hoping Porzingis' return can help them regain their form, while the Jazz are aiming to build momentum despite their recent struggles.

The details

Porzingis played 23 minutes in the Warriors' loss to the Thunder on Saturday, finishing with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was encouraged by Porzingis' performance, noting that he looked good physically despite some rhythm issues. The Warriors plan to rest Porzingis against the Jazz on Monday and play him against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday as they continue to manage his condition. Meanwhile, the Jazz have been dealing with their own injury issues, leading to a competitive but ultimately unsuccessful road trip that culminated in a 113-99 loss to the Bucks on Saturday.

  • The Warriors and Jazz will face off on Monday, March 9, 2026 in Salt Lake City.
  • Porzingis returned to action for the Warriors on Saturday, March 7, 2026 after missing six games due to illness.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A center for the Golden State Warriors who has been dealing with a condition called POTS that has limited his ability to stay on the court this season.

Brandin Podziemski

A key player for the Golden State Warriors, averaging 21.7 points per game in March.

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors who is contributing 10.0 points and 6.3 assists per game in March.

Keyonte George

The leading scorer for the Utah Jazz, who struggled with his shooting in their recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Will Hardy

The head coach of the Utah Jazz, who remains confident in the team's future despite their recent struggles.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like my body's coming back to where I need to be.”

— Kristaps Porzingis (The Athletic)

“I thought he looked like a guy who hadn't played in a little bit, rhythm-wise. But I thought he looked great physically. A really encouraging night -- for him to play 23 minutes. I talked to him after the game. He said he felt good. It was really fun to see him. You can see what kind of weapon he is and the size he gives us. And obviously, we're just figuring out combinations and actions we want to run with him, for him, so it will take a little time, but really encouraging to see him out there.”

— Steve Kerr, Warriors coach (The Athletic)

“I'm really excited about where we're going. And I'm really excited about the people that we have in our organization -- that's players and staff. When you talk about being a winning organization and building a winning culture, the people are everything, and I think we've done a really good job in terms of the people we've put in our locker room and the people that we put around them.”

— Will Hardy, Jazz coach (Deseret News)

What’s next

The Warriors plan to rest Porzingis against the Jazz on Monday and play him against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday as they continue to manage his condition.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Warriors and Jazz highlights the importance of managing injuries and illnesses for contending teams. While the Warriors are hoping Porzingis' return can help them regain their form, the Jazz remain confident in their future despite their recent struggles, underscoring the value of building a strong organizational culture.