Short-Handed Nets Big Underdogs in Utah

Brooklyn (30-14 SU, 23-21 ATS) won again last night without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, but a visit to Salt Lake City on short rest might be too much to overcome. The Jazz (31-11, 27-15) have covered 14 of their last 16 games at home and opened as 7-point favorites.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Although the Nets haven’t been underdogs of more than 5.5 points all season, this Sportsbook line looked short to early bettors who steamed the Jazz up to 10-point chalk by Wednesday morning. There was also heavy action on the UNDER, driving the total down to 228.5.

Brooklyn News & Notes

James Harden’s MVP chances got another boost Tuesday as the star guard carried Brooklyn to a come-from-behind 116-112 win in Portland. Harden, who was listed as questionable before the game with a sore neck, tied a career high with 17 assists and added 25 points to help the Nets overcome the absence of Irving, who is sitting out the trip due to a family matter.

Brooklyn’s defense also dug deep after getting torched for 41 points in the Sportsbook quarter, holding the Trail Blazers to 25 or less in each of the following three frames. The Nets were especially effective guarding Portland’s star backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, forcing them to miss a combined 26 of their 36 field-goal attempts.

The win improved the Nets to 16-2 SU and 13-5 ATS in their last 18 games despite playing all but one of those contests without Durant, who is expected to remain out of action for at least a couple more weeks. Brooklyn has also covered its last five games as a road underdog and is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 on the highway.

Utah News & Notes

Led by Rudy Gobert, the Jazz defense looked a lot more like its old self Monday in Chicago, smothering the paint in a 120-95 rout of the Bulls. Gobert blocked a career-high nine shots for Utah, which had ranked 21st in the NBA in defensive rating over its previous 12 games after being one of the league’s best stop units for much of the season.

Gobert added 21 points and 10 rebounds to finish just a block short of the franchise’s first regular-season triple-double in 13 years. He had plenty of help on the offensive end of the floor as nine other Jazz players recorded at least one field goal, led by 30 points from Donovan Mitchell, 17 from Joe Ingles, 16 from Jordan Clarkson and 15 from Mike Conley.

Monday’s win was just Utah’s second point-spread cover in its last eight games, but seven of those contests were played on the road. Utah has been a consistent money-maker for its backers when playing in the friendly confines of Vivint Arena, covering 14 of its last 16 in Salt Lake City.

Betting Pick: UNDER 228.5

Only three of Brooklyn’s last 11 games have featured more than 229 points scored in regulation time, and the Nets could empty the bench if things get out of hand in the second half.