The well-rested Utah Jazz are the No. 1 overall seed in the NBA playoffs and open their Western Conference first-round matchup at home against former Raptor Jonas Valanciunas and the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night, with Utah opening as a 9-point favourite to win on the NBA odds.

Grizzlies vs. Jazz NBA Playoff Odds

Utah finished the shortened regular season at 50-22, one game up on the Phoenix Suns for the top seed throughout the NBA playoffs. It’s the first time in franchise history the Jazz finished with the NBA’s best regular season record. They are in the playoffs for a fifth straight year but were bounced in the first round of the previous two.

Even though the regular season was 72 games instead of the usual 82, Utah still hit a franchise-record 1,205 three-point field goals, which equates to an NBA-record 16.7 made per game. Utah was the only team in the league to make at least 10 in every game. The team’s net rating of 9.4 was the 15th-best in NBA history. Despite all that, Utah is only a +310 third-favourite to win the West behind the Lakers (+190) and Clippers (+220).

Being honest, this writer half-wrote this story ahead of time assuming that Steph Curry and the Warriors would beat visiting Memphis on Friday night and face Utah. Alas, the Grizzlies pulled off the OT surprise.

Utah swept the season series 3-0 vs. Memphis, but all three games took place within a span of five days in late March, and two were very close. The Jazz are 7-3 straight up in the past 10 meetings but 5-5 against the spread.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis beat visiting San Antonio by four points on Wednesday, as a 4-point favourite and closed as a 4.5-point underdog Friday against the Warriors, before upsetting Steph Curry and Golden State 117-112 in overtime. That was easily the best of all the play-in tournament games. Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant was terrific with 35 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals – Memphis led the NBA in steals during the regular season and had a whopping 14 on Friday. Jonas Valanciunas had nine points and 12 rebounds before fouling out.

The Grizzlies have two Canadians on the roster in Dillon Brooks (14 points on Friday, a starter and a stellar defender) and Brandon Clarke. For some odd reason, Clarke has fallen out of the rotation completely of late, despite averaging 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds during the regular season. He had been dealing with an injury but played a bit in the regular-season finale, but not since then. Memphis is 9-2 ATS in its past 11 as an underdog.

Utah Jazz

Utah is going to have two award winners this season in centre Rudy Gobert, who will win NBA Defensive Player of the Year for third time in his career, and guard Jordan Clarkson, who will win Sixth-Man of the Year. Gobert ranked first in the NBA in defensive rating (100.6), first in defensive win shares (5.2), first in blocked shots (190) and second in rebounding (13.5 rpg). Gobert isn’t exactly a slouch on offence either, as he shot a league-high 67.5 per cent from the field, although many of those makes were dunks (league-high 231). Clarkson averaged a career-high 18.4 points along with 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists – he started just one game.

Jazz leading scorer and All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell (career-high 26.4 ppg, 5.2 apg, 4.4 rpg) hasn’t played since April 16 due to an ankle injury but has been practicing this week and expects to play Sunday. All-Star point guard Mike Conley missed a decent chunk near the end with his own injury but did make it back for the final two games of the regular season. Utah has no Canadians on the roster but did acquire guard Matt Thomas from the Raptors at the trade deadline, although doesn’t get many minutes.

NBA Playoff Prediction: Who Will Win Grizzlies vs. Jazz?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Grizzlies Team Leaders

MEM

Points	Ja Morant 19.11
Assists	Ja Morant 7.38
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 12.52
FG%	Jonas Valanciunas 59.2
Steals	Kyle Anderson 1.22
Blocks	Jaren Jackson Jr. 1.64

UTA

Points	Donovan Mitchell 26.43
Assists	Mike Conley 5.98
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 13.52
FG%	Rudy Gobert 67.5
Steals	Mike Conley 1.37
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 2.68

MEM

Points	Ja Morant 30.2
Assists	Ja Morant 8.2
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 9.8
FG%	Desmond Bane 57.9
Steals	Kyle Anderson 2.8
Blocks	Jaren Jackson Jr. 1.2

UTA

Points	Donovan Mitchell 32.3
Assists	Mike Conley 7.67
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.27
FG%	Rudy Gobert 74.1
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 1.1
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 2.09

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Jazz Team Leaders

MEM

Points	Ja Morant 19.11
Assists	Ja Morant 7.38
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 12.52
FG%	Jonas Valanciunas 59.2
Steals	Kyle Anderson 1.22
Blocks	Jaren Jackson Jr. 1.64

UTA

Points	Donovan Mitchell 26.43
Assists	Mike Conley 5.98
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 13.52
FG%	Rudy Gobert 67.5
Steals	Mike Conley 1.37
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 2.68

MEM

Points	Ja Morant 30.2
Assists	Ja Morant 8.2
Rebounds	Jonas Valanciunas 9.8
FG%	Desmond Bane 57.9
Steals	Kyle Anderson 2.8
Blocks	Jaren Jackson Jr. 1.2

UTA

Points	Donovan Mitchell 32.3
Assists	Mike Conley 7.67
Rebounds	Rudy Gobert 12.27
FG%	Rudy Gobert 74.1
Steals	Donovan Mitchell 1.1
Blocks	Rudy Gobert 2.09

Injuries

Memphis

Kyle Anderson (SF)

Ques Sun Thumb - 14 / 05 / 21

Dillon Brooks (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 14 / 05 / 21

Brandon Clarke (PF)

Ques Sun Thigh - 14 / 05 / 21

Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 05 / 21

Ja Morant (PG)

Ques Sun Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Ques Sun Back - 14 / 05 / 21

Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF)

Out Tues Rest - 11 / 05 / 21

Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Ques Thurs Back - 11 / 05 / 21

Sean McDermott (SF)

Out indefinitely Foot - 06 / 05 / 21

Xavier Tillman (PF)

Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 21

Utah

Miye Oni (SG)

Prob Sat Back - 28 / 05 / 21

Ersan Ilyasova (PF)

Ques Sun Illness - 22 / 05 / 21

Juwan Morgan (PF)

Prob Fri Heel - 06 / 05 / 21

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Ques Fri Wrist - 29 / 04 / 21

Ersan Ilyasova (PF)

Prob Wed Hamstring - 18 / 04 / 21

Derrick Favors (PF)

Prob Mon Knee - 16 / 04 / 21

Joe Ingles (SF)

Ques Fri Knee - 13 / 04 / 21

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Out Tues Rest - 13 / 04 / 21

Jordan Clarkson (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 08 / 04 / 21

Elijah Hughes (SG)

Ques Thurs Illness - 03 / 04 / 21

Injuries

Memphis

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kyle Anderson (SF)	Ques Sun	Thumb - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Anderson sat out the previous game with right thumb soreness, and it is up in the air if he will play Sunday against the Warriors.
Dillon Brooks (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Brooks was absent from the lineup during the last game due to left knee soreness, and there is no indication if he will participate in Sunday's showdown with the Warriors.
Brandon Clarke (PF)	Ques Sun	Thigh - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Clark sat out the previous game with right thigh soreness, and it is unknown if he will line up for Sunday's battle with the Warriors.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Jackson Jr. will be held out of the lineup for Friday's clash with the Kings as he will be given a day of rest.
Ja Morant (PG)	Ques Sun	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Morant was held out of the last game due to back soreness, and it is uncertain if he will take the court versus the Warriors on Sunday.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Ques Sun	Back - 14 / 05 / 21	1-6	4-3	+ -
Valanciunas missed the last game due to a back injury, and it is unknown if he will play against the Warriors on Sunday.
Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF)	Out Tues	Rest - 11 / 05 / 21	2-7	5-4	+ -
Jackson Jr. will not be in the lineup on Tuesday versus the Mavericks, as he will be given a day of rest.
Jonas Valanciunas (C)	Ques Thurs	Back - 11 / 05 / 21	2-7	5-4	+ -
Valanciunas missed the last game due to back soreness, and it is unknown if he will take the court on Thursday against the Kings.
Sean McDermott (SF)	Out indefinitely	Foot - 06 / 05 / 21	4-8	6-6	+ -
McDermott is out of the lineup with left foot soreness, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Xavier Tillman (PF)	Ques Mon	Illness - 06 / 05 / 21	4-8	6-6	+ -
Tillman sat out the previous two contests with an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will take the court against the Pelicans on Monday.

Utah

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Miye Oni (SG)	Prob Sat	Back - 28 / 05 / 21	6-3	7-2	+ -
Oni is bothered by lower-back soreness, but it is projected that he will participate in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Grizzlies.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)	Ques Sun	Illness - 22 / 05 / 21	7-4	8-3	+ -
Ilyasova is ailing from an illness, leaving his status against the Grizzlies for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round clouded.
Juwan Morgan (PF)	Prob Fri	Heel - 06 / 05 / 21	11-7	12-6	+ -
Morgan has sat out the past four games due to a heel injury, but it is likely that he will take the court Friday against the Thunder.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Ques Fri	Wrist - 29 / 04 / 21	12-10	14-8	+ -
O'Neale is battling right wrist soreness, and it is unknown if he will dress for Friday's matchup versus the Suns.
Ersan Ilyasova (PF)	Prob Wed	Hamstring - 18 / 04 / 21	14-12	15-11	+ -
Ilyasova missed the previous game with left hamstring tightness, but it is likely that he will suit up versus the Rockets on Wednesday.
Derrick Favors (PF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 16 / 04 / 21	14-14	15-13	+ -
Favors has missed the last two games due to right knee soreness, but it is expected that he will be in the lineup versus the Lakers on Monday.
Joe Ingles (SF)	Ques Fri	Knee - 13 / 04 / 21	15-15	17-13	+ -
Ingles was held out of the previous game due to left knee soreness, and it is unknown if he will line up for Friday's tilt versus the Pacers.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Out Tues	Rest - 13 / 04 / 21	15-15	17-13	+ -
O'Neale will not be active against the Thunder on Tuesday as he will be given a day of rest.
Jordan Clarkson (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 21	16-17	18-15	+ -
Clarkson has missed the previous four games with a sprained right ankle, but it is projected that he will take the court Friday versus the Pacers.
Elijah Hughes (SG)	Ques Thurs	Illness - 03 / 04 / 21	17-19	19-17	+ -
Hughes has missed the previous three games with an illness, and it is uncertain if he will take the court Thursday versus the Trail Blazers.