Oklahoma City Thunder (44-10) vs. Utah Jazz (13-41)
February 21, 2025 9:30 pm EDT
The Line: Utah Jazz +15.5; Over/Under: 236.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Utah Jazz play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Delta Center on Friday night. Here’s a Jazz vs Thunder Prediction. This article will include a Jazz vs Thunder Pick.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been on a tear as they’ve won 10 of their last 13 games overall, but they will be looking to bounce back in this spot after getting thrashed by the Timberwolves in a 116-101 road defeat in their last game before the All-Star break. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team in scoring with 24 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, Jalen Williams added 20 points with five assists while Luguentz Dort chipped in with 14 points. As a team, the Thunder shot 42 percent from the field and seven of 29 from the 3-point line as they started the game with low energy and quickly found themselves trailing by double digits. In typical fashion, the Thunder clawed their way back into the contest but seemed to run out of gas as they scored just 14 points in the fourth quarter. To be fair, the Thunder were always going to find it tough as they were playing their third game in four nights.
Utah Jazz Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 13 of their last 16 games overall and they will be kicking themselves after coming up just short to the Clippers in a 120-116 overtime loss last Thursday. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 20 points, Kyle Filipowski added 20 points with 10 rebounds while John Collins and Isaiah Collier scored 17 and 16 points respectively. As a team, the Jazz shot 48 percent from the field and 18 of 45 from the 3-point line as they set the tone with 33 points in the first quarter and looked to be in full control when they built a 20-point lead, but they allowed the Clippers to hang around and it cost them in the overtime period where they scored just eight points to allow the Clippers to slip away. The Jazz will meet the Rockets, Blazers, and Kings after this game.
Why the Utah Jazz will win
- The Jazz have won each of their last three games as home underdogs following a loss.
- The home team has covered the spread in each of the Jazz’s last eight games.
- The Thunder have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games as road favorites against Northwest Division opponents.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won each of their last 15 games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Jazz have lost each of their last 10 games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last eight games as road favorites against opponents who are on the first leg of a back-to-back.
- The Jazz have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six home games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Jazz’s last seven games against Western Conference opponents has gone OVER the total points line.
- Eight of the Thunder’s last nine games as favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
Jazz vs Thunder Prediction
The Thunder have ruled out Ousmane Dieng, Cason Wallace, and Alex Caruso once again, while the Jazz have ruled out Collin Sexton and they have KJ Martin listed as questionable for this one. The Thunder are coming into this one fresh off a tough loss, but I really would credit that to a tough stretch of the schedule as they were playing their third game in four nights. I’m not surprised at all to see them open as heavy favorites given how poor the Jazz have been. Sure, the Jazz were more than competitive in their overtime loss back on Thursday, but the Thunder are just running through teams and I think they come out swinging to make up for their last loss.
