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The Utah Jazz is currently on a losing streak as they hop on the road to play against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. With that said, it’s time to continue our NBA odds series and make a Jazz-Kings prediction and pick.
The Jazz are the 1st seed in the Western Conference with a record of 44-17 but have lost two straight games against the Minnesota Timberwolves who hold the second-worst record in the Western Conference. The Kings on the other hand picked up a big game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday for a record of 25-36 and the 12th seed in the Western Conference.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Jazz-Kings odds.
NBA Odds: Jazz-Kings Odds
Utah Jazz -8.5 (-112)
Sacramento Kings +8.5 (-108)
Over 222.5 Points (-110)
Under 222.5 Points(-110)
Why The Jazz Could Cover The Spread
Injury Report: Mike Conley (out), Donovan Mitchell (out), Udoka Azubuike (out)
The Jazz have been fantastic this entire season aside from a few slip-ups now and then, which is expected.
Quin Snyder has been able to get his players to commit on both ends of the floor. The team overall has the fourth-best offensive rating and the third-best defensive rating in the entire league.
This Utah team will, however, be without their talented backcourt of Conley and Mitchell on Wednesday against the Kings. The two are combining for 42.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game for the season while shooting around 45 percent from the field.
Coach Snyder will need to somehow make up for the loss in offensive production with those two players out and will most likely involve Jordan Clarkson and Bojan Bogdanovic.
With or without Conley and Mitchell, the Jazz are a very great defensive team with Rudy Gobert anchoring the paint with 2.8 blocks and 13.5 rebounds per contest.
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If the Jazz can make up for the offense of Conley and Mitchell, Coach Snyder's team will have a very good chance in covering the spread on Wednesday against the Kings who are also dealing with some injuries.
Why The Kings Could Cover The Spread
Injury Report: De'Aaron Fox (out), Harrison Barnes (out), Marvin Bagley III (out), and Robert Woodard II (out)
After it seemed like Coach Luke Walton got his team to turn the corner by winning five straight games, the Kings go on to lose eight straight games, including losses to an injured Los Angeles Lakers team, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Washington Wizards.
During this stretch, the Kings’ lone star, De’Aaron Fox, put up three 30-plus point performances against three different teams and a 43-point display against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings will be without Fox on Wednesday, as well as Barnes, so Coach Walton will need to get his other starters and players off the bench to step up and make up for a lot of lost production with those two out. Fortunately, they are a solid and balanced offensive team with four other players averaging double-digit points for the season.
The primary issue for the Kings which has been the problem all season long lies on the defensive end of the floor where they currently rank dead last in the league. This will be the key for Sacramento to cover the spread against the Jazz who are without two of their star players.
Final Jazz-Kings Prediction & Pick
Despite the injuries, the Jazz's roster of active players is still very capable of winning basketball games especially as the Kings are dealing with their fair share of injuries. Overall, the Jazz are the better offensive and defensive team and for that reason alone the edge goes to Coach Snyder's team to cover the spread on Wednesday. This means the Jazz will also end their current losing streak as the Kings' hopes of making the play-in tournament grows even dimmer.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION & PICK FOR JAZZ-KINGS: UTA 116, SAC 102 (UTA -8.5)
