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The NBA regular season continues with games on Friday. The Los Angeles Clippers will hit the road and take on the Utah Jazz. It's time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Clippers-Jazz prediction and pick.
Both of these teams have had somewhat similar starts to the season. The Los Angeles Clippers have managed to be competitive, but are coming off back-to-back losses. While the Utah Jazz have been gaining momentum, and have won two of their last three games. The Jazz may have an edge in this, but it could still come down to the wire.
Here are the Clippers-Jazz NBA odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NBA Odds: Clippers-Jazz Odds
Los Angeles Clippers: +6 (-112)
Utah Jazz: -6 (-108)
Over: 213.5 (-108)
Under: 213.5 (-112)
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Why The Clippers Could Cover The Spread
The Los Angeles Clippers have had an interesting year. More than most teams, they have struggled with injuries, but through it all have done a decent job salvaging the season. Through 72 games they are dead even, with a record of 36-36. They have lost their last two matchups, with their most recent defeat coming against the Toronto Raptors by three. The Clippers rallied in the third quarter to come back in that game, but couldn't finish the job in the fourth. If this team is able to step things up then they could keep things competitive in Utah, however that is a big ask. The Jazz have been a dominant team and if LA wants to come out ahead they will need to play better.
This Clippers team is really lacking direction. After injuries to their best players, LA has managed to hold on to this season, winning games here and there, but with no real purpose. Different players step up on different nights for the Clippers, but that's actually a good team. Even before the injuries to their best guys, this Clippers team was known for having depth, and that has been put to the test this season. If the Clippers want to win on Friday they will need everyone to contribute, not just one or two guys to score 20 points. LA has done their best when everyone has played a part.
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The Clippers have been absolutely crippled by injuries. LA currently has five players listed on their injury report. Everyone knows that both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are likely to miss the rest of the season. However, beyond the two superstars, three other Clippers remain out with injuries. If the Clippers want to stay competitive it will certainly be an uphill battle. No one would be surprised if the Clippers just call it a season at some point and just try to look ahead towards the future.
Why The Jazz Could Cover The Spread
The Utah Jazz have had a different season than the Clippers in many ways. While they have battled with injuries, none have been as devastating as LA's. Through 69 games they have a solid winning record of 43-26. They are also coming off a big win against the Chicago Bulls. Utah took down the Bulls by 15 and will look to carry that same energy and momentum into Friday's game. The Jazz did everything right in that game, and the score reflects that. The Clippers are a significantly worse opponent than Chicago, so Utah should be able to have similar success on Friday.
This Utah Jazz team has leaned heavily on their starters, but it has been effective. While maybe only five or six guys have contributed significant minutes, they have been extremely productive. When your rotation is as strong as the Jazz then you can afford to play fewer guys. In their win over the Bulls, Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Mitchell combined for 63 points. Rudy Gobert scored 14 and amassed 20 rebounds. This Jazz team is looking like a well-oiled machine ready to make a playoff push. Expect the Jazz to keep on rolling on Friday and add another win to their record.
While the Jazz have gotten their best players back from injuries, they still have a lot of their roster listed on the injury report. Currently, Utah has five players listed as injured, only one of which is questionable for Friday's game. Once the Jazz return to full health and gain back some depth they will really be able to kick things into high gear. However, in the meantime, they will just have to rely on their starters to carry the team, and they've been doing a good job at that.
Final Clippers-Jazz Prediction & Pick
This is an easy pick. The Clippers have been crippled this season. While LA has managed to play some surprisingly competitive matches, betting on them to do so is a losing bet. The Jazz, on the other hand, are really starting to turn things up. Utah feels the playoffs coming and is getting ready to rally for the postseason. Given all of this, the Jazz are the better pick. Pick Utah to win and cover.
FINAL CLIPPERS-JAZZ PICK: Utah Jazz -6 (-108)
FINAL CLIPPERS-JAZZ SCORE PREDICTION: Jazz 110 – Clippers 94
