The Utah Jazz look to build off of a win in Boston on Tuesday when they head to D.C. to take on the Wizards. Washington is on the second night of a back-to-back, still searching for their first win after the all-star break. Here's our prediction the Thursday night's Jazz vs. Wizards matchup.
Utah boasts the best record in the NBA at 29-10, while Washington is in a tailspin falling completely out of the picture in the Eastern Conference.
Against the spread this year, the Jazz are a more than reliable 26-13-0, while the Wizards are 19-20-0.
NBA Odds: Jazz – Wizards odds
Utah Jazz -10.5 (-115)
Washington Wizards +10.5 (-105)
Over 237.5 points (-110)
Under 237.5 points (-110)
Why the Jazz Could Cover the Spread
It's easy to be hesitant on taking a double digit road favorite, I get it. But we did it yesterday with the Warriors (-12.5) against the Rockets and that ticket cashed.
Utah has been a double digit favorite on six different occasions this year and they are 4-2-0 ATS in those contests.
The Jazz are flat out superior to Washington in almost any category you want to look at it. And this year Utah has done it with an efficient offense. In fact, post All-Star break, Utah has scored no fewer than 114 points in any game, which should be alarming for the Wizards, a team that gives up an NBA worst 120.1 points per game to the opposition.
Quin Snyder's squad should have no issues filling it up against a Wizards team that as noted not only gives up the most points per game on average, but is also sputtering so far after the All-Star break.
Expect Utah to litter the three-point arc with the usual suspects like Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, and convert early and often against Washington.
In the West, Utah leads the pack right now. They aren't going to cough one up against a lowly Wizards squad.
Why the Wizards Could Cover the Spread
At least the travel legs won't be a factor for Washington tonight. This marks the 5th straight home game for the Wizards, when they play the role of host to the Jazz on Thursday. And while the Wizards haven't won any of those games, they've kept it competitive in three of the four so far.
Bradley Beal is a walking bucket. There's literally always a chance he just erupts for a 40-point game and nobody would bat an eye at it. He's that good on the offensive side of the ball. In his last two games, he's poured in 66 points total. While the Wizards aren't a good team overall, they can stay in games when Beal has one of those nights, and you never quite know who they will come against.
Washington barely lost to the Kings last night 121-119, and you know they want to rinse their mouth of the sour box scores that have come their way after the All-Star break. It hasn't been for a lack of effort on the Wizards end, they just don't have the personnel to matchup with teams like the Bucks and the 76ers (three of their five after the break have come against these two).
The Wizards are a 12.5 point underdog tonight and they were able to stay inside that number in both recent games against a Milwaukee Bucks side that has looked unstoppable as of late.
Final Jazz – Wizards Prediction and Pick
It's a large number at 12.5 but you aren't going to make money consistently betting the Wizards just because the number is a bit frightening. On the flip side, the Jazz have the second best record ATS this year, and with their top record in the West, their spreads in general have tended to be higher. It comes with the territory of being the top dog.
Washington likes to attack the rim, the Jazz are really good in the paint limiting the opponent. Correction, Rudy Gobert is really good at limiting the opponent in the paint. It could cause some major problems for the Wizards.
I'll jump aboard Utah to cover on the road.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION FOR JAZZ – WIZARDS: UTAH 124, WAS 109 (UTAH -10.5)
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