Nuggets vs Jazz Odds & Prediction: Utah A Dangerous Team To Back At Home

Utah (30-21 SU, 21-29-1 ATS) hasn’t covered the spread at Vivint Arena since mid-December and is 4-12 SU in its last 16 overall. The banged-up Jazz try to turn things around when they host Denver (28-21, 21-28), which has lost 13 of its last 15 visits to Salt Lake City.

Nuggets vs Jazz Odds & Analysis

Sportsbook Odds 

Sportsbooks weren’t taking any overnight Nuggets vs Jazz predictions from bettors because of Nikola Jokic’s uncertain status for Denver. When oddsmakers finally opened the line this morning, they made Utah a 2-point favorite and set the OVER/UNDER at 224.5 points. The total had jumped up a couple of points to 226.5 by the time of writing.

Get the best Nuggets vs Jazz odds and lines available from our recommended sportsbooks for your favorite picks of the night.

Sore Toe Doesn’t Slow Down Jokic, But He Needs More Help

Jokic was about the only thing the Nuggets had going for them last night as their five-game win streak was snapped with a 130-115 loss at Minnesota. The reigning MVP scored or assisted on 21 of Denver’s 28 first-quarter points, but the Nuggets fell apart when he went to the bench. Minnesota’s reserves outscored Denver’s bench 48-17 on the night, including a 25-7 run when Jokic was resting in the first half.

The Nuggets obviously need more from their supporting cast tonight, especially if coach Michael Malone chooses to sit Jokic or limit his minutes on the second night of a back-to-back. Jokic was questionable before yesterday’s contest with a sore toe but still scored 21 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and dished out eight assists in 30 minutes of action. No other Denver player had more than 13 points, six rebounds or three dimes.

If there’s a silver lining to last night’s loss for Denver, it’s that Jokic sat the entire fourth quarter with the Nuggets down by as many as 30 points. The game soared OVER the total by 16 points, the ninth time in 11 games that Denver has eclipsed the total.

Reeling Jazz Take Another Hit With Season-Ending Injury To Ingles

It hasn’t been a happy start to 2022 for the Jazz, who lost 12 of their 16 games in January to fall to fourth place in the Western Conference. Things got even worse Sunday in Minnesota when veteran forward Joe Ingles tore his ACL, sidelining last year’s Sixth Man of the Year runner-up for the rest of the season.

Ingles is averaging just 7.4 points in 25 minutes per game, but his loss is still a big blow for a Utah squad that is already playing without stars Donovan Mitchell (concussion protocol) and Rudy Gobert (calf strain) as well as head coach Quin Snyder (COVID-19 protocols). The Jazz are 0-4 SU without Gobert and 1-6 since Mitchell was injured.

Although Gobert is best known for his defensive abilities, it’s the Jazz’s offense that seems to have suffered the most without The Stifle Tower in the middle. Utah has not scored more than 109 points in five straight games, a big drop-off for a team ranked second in the NBA with 113.5 points per game.

Nuggets vs Jazz Pick & Insights

Nuggets: Keys To Cover

Jokic’s availability is obviously critical to Denver’s chances of covering this contest, so make sure to check his status when making your Nuggets vs Jazz prediction. In the final game of a six-game road trip, Denver also needs guards Will Barton and Aaron Gordon to step up their offensive game and better play from the bench.

Jazz: Keys To Cover

Utah should be a far fresher team, having not played since Sunday while the Nuggets are playing the second night of a back-to-back and their third game in four days. The Jazz also need to play with some desperation to get back on track by starting a six-game homestand with a victory.

Odds Shark’s Computer Nuggets vs Jazz Prediction: Nuggets +2

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