Two drastically different-looking teams will tip off their 2019-20 NBA season Wednesday in Utah as the Thunder visit the Jazz. Oklahoma City traded away its superstar backcourt tandem of Russell Westbrook and Paul George over the summer, while the Jazz brought in several veterans to boost an offense that ranked 17th in the league last year.
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs Utah Jazz (Matchup Report)
- Date/Time: October 23, 9 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: FSOK
- Sportsbook Odds: Utah -10 | O/U 219 (Line History)
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Both the side and total have seen significant movement since oddsmakers opened the Jazz as 10-point favorites with an OVER/UNDER of 219. Oklahoma City has been bet down to +9, but the bigger move has been action on the OVER, steaming it up to 223.5 as of Tuesday night.
Oklahoma City News & Notes
After shipping away Russell Westbrook and Paul George during the summer, Oklahoma City is projected by many to be one of the worst teams in the West. Even if the Thunder do start the season well, expectations are that the team will look to trade veteran assets like Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari to contenders and continue to stockpile draft picks.
Until that happens, though, we might see the Thunder playing at one of the slower paces in the NBA. Paul is known for his methodical approach at point guard, and he’s also being looked toward to mentor second-year guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as OKC’s floor general of the future. The Thunder are strong in the backcourt and in the paint but weak on the perimeter, so it doesn’t seem to be in Oklahoma City’s best interest to get out and run. It’s worth noting that the Thunder averaged just 104.5 points per game in three preseason contests — the seventh-lowest in the league — despite shooting a respectable 45.5 percent from the field.
Utah News & Notes
Take a look at the Jazz’s preseason stats and you’ll think you’re living in the Bizarro World. Known for their plodding style in recent years under head coach Quin Snyder, the Jazz were seventh in the NBA in points per game, averaging 118.4 per contest, and stroking the net at a 49.0 percent clip from the field. Now the bad news. Utah’s defense was dead last in the Association, getting torched for 119.2 points per game and allowing opponents to hit 49.9 percent of their shots — contributing to an 0-4 record in exhibition action.
Why the sudden reversal of fortunes for what has been a defensive-minded franchise? Well, let’s not forget that it’s the preseason. But some are also putting stock in the fact that after adding Mike Conley, Jeff Green, Bojan Bogdanovic and Ed Davis to the roster, it may take some time for everyone to get on the same page in Snyder’s defensive scheme. Meanwhile, this Utah offense has the potential to be much better with Bogdanovic and Conley spreading the floor, preventing opponents from simply focusing on shutting down Donovan Mitchell.
Betting Pick: UNDER 219
The Jazz may need some time together to jell enough to stop an elite offense, but I don’t expect Utah to have much trouble slowing OKC.
- Oklahoma City is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games vs Utah.
- Utah is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home.
- The total has gone UNDER in 11 of the last 13 meetings in Utah.
