Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors: NBA Odds, Prediction
-
Charlie Grant
The Toronto Raptors seek their 10 straight ATS win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday in Toronto fans’ lone opportunity to see Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell in person. Will he add another highlight to his dunk reel at the ACC or will the Raptors prevent him from taking flight?
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Raptors return home after winning and cover as 6.5-point road favourites against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. It marked the Dinos’ first cover in four games and their first ATS win in their last six games as the betting favourite.
Toronto owns the second best record in the East at 32-14 and is just a game and half back of the Boston Celtics for top seed in the conference. The Raps are 25-21 against the spread and the over is 24-22 in their 46 games this season.
The Jazz squeaked out a three-point win in overtime on Wednesday night at Detroit and improved to 20-28 SU and 24-24 ATS overall. Only six of Utah’s 20 wins have come on the road and the club has covered the spread in just 10 of 25 away dates.
As mentioned, the Raptors are 8-1 SU and 9-0 ATS in their last nine games against the Jazz.
Utah Jazz
Returning to the postseason was always going to be an uphill battle for Utah the minute Gordon Hayward bolted for Boston. But the Jazz’s season went off the rails when star centre Rudy Gobert started missing significant time with injuries.
Gobert, last season’s runner-up in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, has missed over half Utah’s games this year. Friday’s game with be his fifth since returning from the sprained PCL in his left knee.
Mitchell, the first-year guard would be the front runner to win Rookie of the Year if Ben Simmons wasn’t playing his rookie season a year late. Mitchell leads Utah and all rookies in scoring at 19.1 points per game.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto will be well rested for Utah. The Raps led by 18 points at halftime on Wednesday and the Hawks never really threatened to get back into the game. Kyle Lowry led Toronto starters in minutes played with just 28.
The Raptors will have to be ready for a grind-it-out type of game. Utah is sixth in the Association in fewest points allowed per game (102.7).
