Jazz vs Clippers Pick – NBA Predictions & Odds 1/18/23

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz do battle at the Vivint Arena on Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been in a real funk as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 games overall and they will be hoping to bounce back here after getting routed by the 76ers in a 120-110 home loss last night. Kawhi Leonard has been in great form for the Clippers and he led the way again with 27 points on 10 of 20 shooting, Norman Powell added 16 points off the bench while Paul George tallied 13 points with eight rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Clippers shot 50 percent from the field and 12 of 34 from the 3-point line as they exploded for 37 points in the third quarter to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit, only to go cold and score just 21 points in the fourth quarter to allow the 76ers off the hook in the end.  

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have been in decent shape as they’ve won three of their past four games and they will be hoping to stay hot after sneaking past the Timberwolves in a 126-125 road win on Monday. Jordan Clarkson led the team with 21 points, Walker Kessler added 20 points with 21 rebounds and two blocks, Collin Sexton added 19 points off the bench while Mike Conley tallied 14 points with eight rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Jazz shot 53 percent from the field and 13 of 34 from the 3-point line as they struggled to contain the Timberwolves and trailed by 11 points, before they finally made their move with 39 points in the fourth quarter to escape with the narrow win thanks to Clarkson who drained the game-winning free throw with just 4.0 seconds left in the game.

Looking at the betting trends, the Clippers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against a team with a losing record and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Jazz are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a winning record and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.

Head to head, the over is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings overall and the Clippers are 9-25-1 ATS in the last 35 meetings in Utah.

The Clippers are shorthanded again as John Wall and Luke Kennard are both still out and it wouldn’t surprise me if coach Rivers decides to rest either Leonard or George for load management purposes. The Jazz could also be missing a couple of players as Kelly Olynyk is still out while Lauri Markkanen is listed as questionable. The Clippers have been mired in their worst slump of the season, but they are actually healthier than they’ve been in a while and I like their chances of pulling off the upset if the Jazz’s Markkanen isn’t able to suit up. The betting trends favor the Jazz in this matchup, but assuming that the Clippers don’t rest anyone at the last minute, I’ll stick with the Clippers to at least get the cover in this spot.