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Warriors will see if they can continue magic vs. Jazz

May 7, 2007 - 3:11 PM Golden State at Utah 10:30 pm EDT Western Conference Semifinals Game One

SALT LAKE CITY (Ticker) -- After recording possibly the greatest upset in the NBA playoffs, the ultra-dangerous Golden State Warriors head north to try and extend their amazing run.

The Warriors will meet the Utah Jazz in Game One of the Western Conference semifinals at the EnergySolutions Arena on Monday.

Golden State, which advanced to the second round for the first time in 16 seasons, is the first No. 8 team to beat a top seed in the first round under the best-of-seven format after shocking the Dallas Mavericks in six games. Although the Warriors are still the lower seed against the Jazz, few are looking at them as underdogs.

The Jazz advanced by beating the Houston Rockets in Game Seven with a 103-99 victory on Saturday night, giving them less than two days to prepare to host the series opener. The Warriors will be well-rested and ready to run once again after finishing off the Mavericks on Thursday.

The Jazz are in the second round for the first time since 2000. Only guard Derek Fisher, who was traded from the Warriors to Utah last summer, and center Mehmet Okur have been this far in the postseason before.

Golden State and Utah split the four games during the regular season, with the home team winning each time. Utah is unbeaten at home in the playoffs, but that will hardly faze the Warriors, who set the tone for their upset of the Mavs by winning Game One on the road.

A huge key for the Jazz will be to slow down the tempo and to keep the Warriors from playing their open-court style. The Warriors made 46 percent of their shots from the field and 37 percent of their 3-pointers during the opening round.