The Utah Jazz invade the Paycom Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Here’s a Thunder vs Jazz Prediction. This article will include a Thunder vs Jazz Pick.
Utah Jazz Betting Preview
The Utah Jazz have been in a real slump as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 games overall. They will be hoping to avoid a fifth straight defeat after getting trounced by the Trail Blazers in a 137-117 road defeat on Monday. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 22 points on eight of 17 shooting, Jusuf Nurkic added 21 points with 12 rebounds and five assists, while Keyonte George chipped in with 15 points and four assists. As a team, the Jazz shot 49 percent from the field and 13 of 31 from the 3-point line, but they could do little on the defensive end to top the Trail Blazers from scoring 78 points in the first half. The Jazz trailed in this one by as many as 32 points before they finished with a flurry of points in the fourth quarter to keep the final margin somewhat respectable.
Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder have cooled off a bit lately as they’ve split their last 12 games overall and they will be hoping to avoid a third straight defeat after getting torched by the Hornets in a 124-97 loss on Monday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 21 points and six assists, Jalen Williams added 16 points with four assists while Chet Holmgren chipped in with 15 points. As a team, the Thunder shot just 37 percent from the field and 11 of 39 from the 3-point line as they went ice-cold and scored just 17 points in the second quarter to trail by 17 points at halftime. They just couldn’t stop the bleeding in the second half as the Hornets just never took their foot off the gas.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder will win
- The Thunder have won each of their last 29 games against Western Conference opponents that held a losing record.
- The Jazz have lost each of their last 12 road games against Northwest Division opponents that held a winning record.
- The Thunder have covered the spread in each of their last seven games against the Jazz following a loss.
- The Jazz have failed to cover the spread in each of their last four games against Thunder teams that held a winning record.
Why the Utah Jazz will win
- The road team has won each of the last four games between the Jazz and Thunder.
- The Thunder have lost two of their last three games as favorites following a loss.
- The road team has covered the spread in each of the last five games between the Jazz and Thunder.
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Thunder’s last five night games against Northwest Division opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Five of the Jazz’s last six games at Paycom Center have gone OVER the total points line.
Oklahoma City Thunder Player Facts
- Chet Holmgren is the only player to have made 9+ field goals without a miss in a game this season.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has recorded 36 games with 3+ assists this season – most of any player in the league.
Utah Jazz Player Facts
- Isaiah Collier ranks 2nd amongst qualified players for assists per 36 minutes (10.3) this season.
- Lauri Markkanen ranks 1st amongst qualified Centers for three-pointers made per game (2.9) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Thunder rank 1st in the league for opponent points per game this season (107.6).
- The Thunder rank 1st in the league for point differential per game this season (+13.6).
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for opponent points per game this season (127.0).
- The Jazz rank 30th in the league for opponent assists per game this season (30.2).
Thunder vs Jazz Prediction
The Jazz are still missing Kevin Love, Ace Bailey, Georges Niang and Walker Kessler, while the Thunder have ruled out Alex Caruso, Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein to name a few. The Jazz have been mired in their worst slump of the season so far, they just got smashed by the Trail Blazers, and now they have to face the league-leading Thunder, who got embarrassed in their last game. The line was always going to be massive for this matchup, but I think it’s justified given the Thunder’s ability to bounce back from losses. The Thunder got humbled in their last game, but I think they bounce back with a massive win at home in this spot.