Since the all-star break, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been a losing bet as they’ve failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games while going 3-6 SU. After dropping their last road game at Staples Center vs the Clippers, they now have a steep challenge of going into Salt Lake City to upset the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are 7-3 SU in their last 10 home games but have dropped three games to the Thunder this season by a combined 11 points.
The Jazz opened as 3.5-point favorites with a total of 227.
STANDOUT STATS
- The Thunder are 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in three games vs the Jazz this season. In those games, Paul George is averaging 39.6 points per game and has hit 15 three-pointers on 29 attempts.
- The Thunder are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games and 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games vs their division on the road.
- The Jazz are 7-3 SU and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games at home. They hold teams to 105.5 points per game (ranked fifth) at Vivint Smart Home Arena compared to 108.3 points on the road.
- Three-point shooting may be the key for the Jazz in limiting the Thunder’s offense as OKC is 29th in the NBA in three-point percentage (32.5 percent) in road games on 32.3 attempts (ranked 14th).
- The total is set at 227 and in three games in this matchup this season, the average combined score was 247.6. Bettors should also note that when the last game between these two teams went to overtime, the combined score prior to the extra period was 258.
My Best Bet for Thunder vs Jazz
Jazz -3.5
I went back and forth on this one because I’m skeptical of the Thunder’s recent woes as Paul George was in and out of the lineup since the all-star break and their most recent loss was on a back-to-back on the road. That being said, they’ve gotten extremely lucky in the last two games to get the victory as it took late-game heroics by George and some questionable calls.
That’s why I’m swinging the other way and siding with the home team because I think the Jazz’s defense will hold the Thunder down. OKC has shot horribly from three-point range on the road all season and I think while this game may come down to the closing minutes, the -3.5-point spread is in Utah’s favor to be able to win and cover if they have a lead.
