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Davis, Warriors host Jazz in season opener

Oct 30, 2007 - 1:40 PM Utah (0-0) at Golden State (0-0) 10:30 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Baron Davis and the Golden State Warriors would like to avenge their playoff loss to the Utah Jazz.

Davis and the Warriors host the Utah Jazz in the opener for both teams on Tuesday.

An eight-year veteran, Davis had a spectacular postseason in helping Golden State become the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in a best-of-seven series when it shocked the Dallas Mavericks last season.

Davis averaged 25.6 points and 6.5 assists in the playoffs. However, the magical run ended when the Warriors ran into Carlos Boozer and the Jazz. Golden State was overmatched on the inside against the Boozer-led Jazz and was eliminated in five games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Now, Davis, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent following the season, will lead a Warriors squad that is missing key members from their surprising playoff run.

Gone is Jason Richardson, the team's second-leading scorer, who was traded to Charlotte for rookie Brandan Wright - the eighth pick of June's draft.

The Warriors also will be without forward Steven Jackson, who is suspended for the first seven games of the season for pleading guilty to a felony charge of criminal recklessness after he fired a gun into the air at an Indianapolis strip club last October.

As for Utah, it is coming off its best season in nine years, but was eliminated in the Western Conference Finals in five games by the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs.

The Jazz thrived last season because Boozer and point guard Deron Williams have become the best duo the franchise has had since the days of John Stockon and Karl Malone.

Boozer posted career high averages of 20.9 points and 11.7 rebounds in the regular season, while averaging 24.2 points and 14.0 rebounds in the series against Golden State.

Meanwhile, Williams' 16.2 points and 9.3 assists per game last season ranked second only to Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns.

The teams split four regular-season meetings last season.