Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz NBA Picks, Odds, Predictions 6/10/2021

The Los Angeles Clippers will be hoping to bounce back in Game 2 against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Arena on Thursday night.

The Los Angeles Clippers came into the series with plenty of confidence after eliminating the Mavericks in seven games in the first round, but they fell back down to Earth on Tuesday when they lost to the Jazz by 112-109. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Paul George added 20 points with 10 rebounds while Luke Kennard chipped in with 18 points on seven of nine shooting off the bench. As a team, the Clippers shot just 42 percent from the field and 16 of 42 from the 3-point line as they came out firing and jumped out to an early 14-point lead, but they lost their momentum and their hold on the game in the third quarter where they scored just 19 points. Despite their struggles in the second half, the Clippers still had a chance to force overtime, but they just needed more from Paul George who shot just four of 17 from the field and Marcus Morris who scored just nine points on four of 14 shooting.

Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz had almost a week off after cruising past the Grizzlies in the first round and it looked like it as they were showing signs of rust in a shaky first half on Tuesday. Donovan Mitchell led the team in scoring with 45 points and five assists, Bojan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson each scored 18 points while Rudy Gobert chipped in with 10 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. As a team, the Jazz shot just 40 percent from the field and 17 of 50 from the 3-point line as they got off to a slow start in the first half, before rallying behind Mitchell to escape with the hard-fought win in the series opener. Clarkson shot just six of 18 from the field while Joe Ingles scored just eight points on three of 12 shooting. Mike Conley sat out the game with a hamstring injury and remains without a timetable for his return.

Looking at the betting trends, the Clippers are 0-4 ATS in their last four Conference Semifinals games and 1-4 ATS in their last five road games against a team above. 600. The Jazz are 26-12 ATS in their last 38 home games, 5-0 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record and 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall.

Head to head, the under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Utah, the Clippers are 1-4 ATS in the last five meetings overall and the Clippers are 8-21-1 ATS in the last 30 meetings in Utah.

The Clippers came out firing on Tuesday and they were in control for most of the game on Tuesday until Mitchell turned it on in the second half. Leonard had a decent game for the Clippers, but they’re going to need more production from George who really struggled on Tuesday. The Jazz will likely be without Conley who sat out the series opener with a hamstring injury, but they were able to get the job done despite a slow start and I’m expecting more of the same in this one. Give me the Jazz to go up 2-0 in the series with another win and cover here.