These teams have experienced contrasting weeks, with Utah feeling mighty fine about themselves and Milwaukee hoping to avoid further bumps in the road as they chase Boston for the number one see in the East. 

The basketball gurus deem the Bucks as -5 favourites on the NBA odds. The over-under is valued at 230.5

Jazz vs. Bucks NBA Betting Odds

Both franchises have tasted success recently. Milwaukee is a regular high seed and won a championship in 2021. Utah often enters the playoffs as one of the higher seeds in the West as well. Of the last ten clashes between them, the Jazz played their way to the tune of six victories. Of note, Utah has won the last two times they faced the Bucks in Milwaukee. 

Will Hardy’s Jazz have amassed a commendable 18-13 record so far this year against the spread, not too different from their 17-14 win-loss record. Currently, they ride a three-game streak of covers, but it came after a three-game streak of failures. The team has fared rather well against top opposition, having covered against Phoenix twice, Portland once, Denver once, and New Orleans twice. 

Mike Budenholzer’s Bucks efforts against the spread aren’t as strong as what shows in the standings, 20-8 in the East is quite strong, but ATS they’ve tallied 15-11-2. The Bucks have been mildly annoying to betters this season, as several of their failures to cover have come against lesser opposition: Chicago, Orlando, the Lakers, and Houston. 

Utah Jazz

Victories are of the essence to pull themselves back into the playoff picture (they rank 7th in the West as of this writing). They earned two against the conference-leading Pelicans this week, showing they can dance with the titans of the NBA. 

Tuesday’s 121-100 conquering was an example of awesome shooting (47.6% from the floor) and domination on the glass (59 rebounds to the Pelicans’ 43). Malik Beasley was the secret sauce, coming off the bench to contribute 21 points and a +15 on the night. Thursday’s revenge opportunity for New Orleans almost came to fruition. It was a back-and-forth affair during which no single dominated any of the four quarters. Both teams shot the lights out, both overall and beyond the arc. The Pelicans believed they snatched away momentum with a game-tying three courtesy of Trey Murphey III with 2 seconds left. Utah refused to go down, ultimately prevailing 132-129 in overtime. 

Milwaukee Bucks

In contrast to Utah, the past 7 days haven’t been as cheerful for Milwaukee. Last Sunday they suffered a fate reserved for precious few clubs in the NBA: losing to the Rockets. Worse still, Houston prevented the Bucks from reaching 100 points, winning the game 97-92.

Tuesday night saw them host the defending champion Warriors. To be clear, they haven’t played like champions on the road this season and that didn’t change on Tuesday when Milwaukee pounded them 128-111. As a testament to the command they had over the game, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s pedestrian night (9/26), they still shot 54.9%. However, a hard slap in the face came Thursday when they visited the Memphis Grizzlies. It was one of their worst outings of the year, falling, dramatically so, 141-101. Memphis bench players like David Roddy even had a tremendous night, earning 15 points and a +18 in just 24 minutes. Just miserable stuff from the Bucks. 

Jrue Holiday is listed as Day-To-Day and Khris Middleton is Out.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Jazz vs. Bucks?

• Regular Season

Jazz Team Leaders

UTA

Points	Lauri Markkanen 25.67
Assists	Kris Dunn 5.17
Rebounds	Lauri Markkanen 8.63
FG%	Micah Potter 100
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.33
Blocks	Walker Kessler 2.32

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.25
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.32
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.89
FG%	Meyers Leonard 57.1
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.17
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.49

• Regular Season

Bucks Team Leaders

UTA

Points	Lauri Markkanen 25.67
Assists	Kris Dunn 5.17
Rebounds	Lauri Markkanen 8.63
FG%	Micah Potter 100
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.33
Blocks	Walker Kessler 2.32

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.25
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.32
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.89
FG%	Meyers Leonard 57.1
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.17
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.49

Injuries

Utah

Rudy Gay (SF)

Out Fri Back - 23 / 03 / 23

Johnny Juzang (SG)

Ques Fri Hip - 23 / 03 / 23

Jordan Clarkson (PG)

Out indefinitely Finger - 07 / 03 / 23

Ochai Agbaji (SG)

Ques Fri Leg - 01 / 03 / 23

Jordan Clarkson (PG)

Ques Sun Thumb - 27 / 02 / 23

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Prob Sat Ankle - 24 / 02 / 23

Rudy Gay (SF)

Prob Sat Nose - 15 / 02 / 23

Lauri Markkanen (PF)

Ques Thurs Knee - 15 / 02 / 23

Collin Sexton (PG)

Early April Hamstring - 15 / 02 / 23

Jordan Clarkson (PG)

Ques Sat Illness - 10 / 02 / 23

Milwaukee

Meyers Leonard (PF)

Out Fri Calf - 19 / 03 / 23

Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Prob Wed Personal - 16 / 03 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 03 / 23

Jae Crowder (SF)

Out Fri Calf - 15 / 03 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 14 / 03 / 23

Khris Middleton (SF)

Prob Thurs Rest - 14 / 03 / 23

Goran Dragic (PG)

Out indefinitely Knee - 14 / 03 / 23

Joe Ingles (SF)

Ques Tues Rest - 13 / 03 / 23

Jae Crowder (SF)

Prob Thurs Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23

Goran Dragic (PG)

Prob Sat Knee - 05 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Utah

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Rudy Gay (SF)	Out Fri	Back - 23 / 03 / 23	2-0	2-0	+ -
Gay exited the previous contest due to back spams, and he will not be available for Friday's battle with the Bucks.
Johnny Juzang (SG)	Ques Fri	Hip - 23 / 03 / 23	2-0	2-0	+ -
Juzang is dealing with a strained left hip flexor, and it remains to be seen if he will be in the lineup versus the Bucks on Friday.
Jordan Clarkson (PG)	Out indefinitely	Finger - 07 / 03 / 23	3-1	3-0-1	+ -
Clarkson is nursing a left finger sprain, and there is no timetable for his return.
Ochai Agbaji (SG)	Ques Fri	Leg - 01 / 03 / 23	4-3	4-2-1	+ -
Agbaji exited the last match with a right lower leg contusion, leaving his status for Friday's showdown with the Thunder uncertain.
Jordan Clarkson (PG)	Ques Sun	Thumb - 27 / 02 / 23	4-3	4-2-1	+ -
Clarkson has missed the previous two contests with a right thumb sprain, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Thunder on Sunday.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Prob Sat	Ankle - 24 / 02 / 23	5-3	4-4-1	+ -
Olynyk is bothered by a right ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will suit up for Saturday's matchup with the Spurs.
Rudy Gay (SF)	Prob Sat	Nose - 15 / 02 / 23	6-3	4-5-1	+ -
Gay was lifted from the previous game due to a fractured nose, but it is likely that he will be active Saturday against the Spurs.
Lauri Markkanen (PF)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 15 / 02 / 23	6-3	4-5-1	+ -
Markkanen sat out the last game with right knee soreness, and it is undetermined if he will face the Thunder on Thursday.
Collin Sexton (PG)	Early April	Hamstring - 15 / 02 / 23	6-3	4-5-1	+ -
Sexton is idle due to a left hamstring strain, and he will not be active until the beginning of April.
Jordan Clarkson (PG)	Ques Sat	Illness - 10 / 02 / 23	7-4	7-5-1	+ -
Clarkson was absent from the last contest due to an illness, and it is unclear if he will face the Knicks on Saturday.

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Meyers Leonard (PF)	Out Fri	Calf - 19 / 03 / 23	2-0	1-1	+ -
Leonard has been held out of the last two contests with left calf soreness, and he will not face the Jazz on Friday.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Prob Wed	Personal - 16 / 03 / 23	1-0	1-0	+ -
Antetokounmpo has missed the previous two games due to a personal matter, but it is anticipated that he will suit up for Wednesday's matchup against the Spurs.
Brook Lopez (C)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Lopez was unavailable for the last game due to ankle soreness, but he is expected to be in the lineup Sunday versus the Raptors.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Out Fri	Calf - 15 / 03 / 23	0-0	0-0	+ -
Crowder has been absent from the previous three games with left calf soreness, and he will not take to the court Friday against the Jazz.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 14 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Allen has sat out the last two contests with right plantar fascia soreness, but it is predicted that he will return versus the Raptors in Sunday's tilt.
Khris Middleton (SF)	Prob Thurs	Rest - 14 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
MIddleton sat out the last game as he was given a day of rest, but it is predicted that he will play on Thursday against the Pacers.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 14 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Dragic is sidelined due to left knee soreness, and there is no timetable for return.
Joe Ingles (SF)	Ques Tues	Rest - 13 / 03 / 23	0-1	1-0	+ -
Ingles sat out the last game as he was given a day of rest, and it is unclear if he will play on Tuesday versus the Suns.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Prob Thurs	Ankle - 08 / 03 / 23	1-2	2-1	+ -
Crowder is dealing with right ankle soreness, but it is not expected to impact his status versus the Nets on Thursday.
Goran Dragic (PG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 05 / 03 / 23	3-3	4-2	+ -
Dragic has been absent from the previous three matches with left knee soreness, and it is forecasted that he will return for Saturday's contest with the Warriors.