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
• Playoffs

Jazz Team Leaders

UTA

Points	Lauri Markkanen 25.62
Assists	Kris Dunn 5.64
Rebounds	Lauri Markkanen 8.64
FG%	Udoka Azubuike 81.9
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.14
Blocks	Walker Kessler 2.34

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

UTA

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bucks Team Leaders

UTA

Points	Lauri Markkanen 25.62
Assists	Kris Dunn 5.64
Rebounds	Lauri Markkanen 8.64
FG%	Udoka Azubuike 81.9
Steals	Kris Dunn 1.14
Blocks	Walker Kessler 2.34

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

UTA

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

Injuries

Utah

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Ques Sun Rest - 07 / 04 / 23

Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23

Collin Sexton (PG)

Out Sun Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 23

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Prob Fri Illness - 29 / 03 / 23

Simone Fontecchio (SF)

Prob Wed Toe - 27 / 03 / 23

Rudy Gay (SF)

Out indefinitely 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

Milwaukee

Wesley Matthews (SG)

Prob Wed Calf - 18 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

AJ Green (PG)

Ques Wed Foot - 07 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Fri Rest - 06 / 04 / 23

Pat Connaughton (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Jevon Carter (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Khris Middleton (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Ques Tues Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23

Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Elig Tues Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Utah

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Ques Sun	Rest - 07 / 04 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Olynyk was absent from the previous contest due to rest, and it is unknown if he will take to the court against the Lakers in Sunday's tilt.
Talen Horton-Tucker (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 06 / 04 / 23	2-1	2-1	+ -
Horton-Tucker has sat out the last two games with left ankle soreness, and he will not lace up versus the Lakers on Sunday.
Collin Sexton (PG)	Out Sun	Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 23	3-1	2-2	+ -
Sexton was been held out of the previous two games with a hamstring issue, and he will not be available for Sunday's clash against the Lakers.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Prob Fri	Illness - 29 / 03 / 23	5-2	4-3	+ -
Olynyk sat out the last contest with an illness, but it is predicted that he will participate in Friday's showdown versus the Celtics.
Simone Fontecchio (SF)	Prob Wed	Toe - 27 / 03 / 23	6-2	4-4	+ -
Fontecchio sat out the last contest with turf toe on his left foot, but it is expected that he will play Wednesday versus the Spurs.
Rudy Gay (SF)	Out indefinitely	Back - 23 / 03 / 23	7-4	7-4	+ -
Gay is sidelined with back spasms, and team officials have not yet confirmed an exact return date.
Johnny Juzang (SG)	Ques Fri	Hip - 23 / 03 / 23	7-4	7-4	+ -
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	12-5	12-4-1	+ -
Clarkson is nursing a left finger sprain, and there is no timetable for his return.
Ochai Agbaji (SG)	Ques Fri	Leg - 01 / 03 / 23	13-7	13-6-1	+ -
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	13-7	13-6-1	+ -
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.

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Wesley Matthews (SG)	Prob Wed	Calf - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	4-0	+ -
Matthews is dealing with a right calf strain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-5	6-0	+ -
Lopez will be out of the lineup Sunday against the Raptors as he is taking a rest day.
AJ Green (PG)	Ques Wed	Foot - 07 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Green is tending to right foot soreness, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Fri	Rest - 06 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Lopez was not be active for Friday's clash with the Grizzlies as he will receive a day of rest.
Pat Connaughton (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Connaughton is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Allen is nursing a right ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Heat.
Jevon Carter (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Carter missed the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is expected that he will line up for Wednesday's clash versus the Bulls.
Khris Middleton (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Middleton is limited due to right knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will line up against the Heat for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Ques Tues	Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Allen exited the previous contest with a right ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up against the Wizards in Tuesday's clash.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Elig Tues	Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is going through a one-game suspension for an on-court incident, and he will be eligible to return against the Wizards on Tuesday.