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Charlie Grant
Utah Jazz vs. Thunder: Game 2 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Jazz’s defensive reputation took a kick in the musical notes after giving up 116 points in Game 1 against the Thunder. Utah owned the league’s second best defense during the regular season and had allowed more than 110 points in just 10 games all year.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Jazz were an average team away from home and went 21-19-1 against the spread in road games during the campaign. They’re also 3-4 ATS in their last seven games away from Salt Lake City.
Oklahoma City turned up the intensity and Playoff P, Paul George’s new self-titled moniker, found his shooting stroke. The Thunder made nearly half their attempts from distance thanks to George’s eight made triples and they let Ricky Rubio shoot the Jazz out of the game.
OKC went from -130 series favourites to -250 following the Game 1 victory in the Sports Interaction NBA futures book. The Jazz are paying +175 to win the series.
Utah Jazz
Utah is hoping its do-everything rookie Donovan Mitchell will be available for Wednesday’s pivotal contest. The high-flying shooting guard hurt his toe during play in Game 1 and is considered questionable to play in Game 2. He said the injury wouldn’t keep him from playing but the Jazz won’t endanger the new face of their franchise from doing serious damage to the toe.
It Mitchell is a no-go expect more minutes for guards Dante Exum and Alec Burks. The bench duo went a combined 8-for-10 from the field in Game 1 but both players are new fixtures to the rotation. Exum is coming back from a serious knee injury while Burks’ took to the pine once it became clear Mitchell had star qualities.
Oklahoma City Thunder
News came out late Tuesday night that George might not play in Game 2 because of a hip injury. Thunder coach Billy Donovan told the media George was unable to practice on Tuesday because of the soreness in his hip and that he’d wait to see if PG practices on Wednesday before updating his status for Game 2. George was OKC Game 1 leading scorer with 36 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the field.
