Jazz vs. Raptors Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The Jazz still opened as 5.5-point favourites on the NBA odds with a total of 230.5.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Even though there’s a good chance that Utah will finish with the best overall record in the league and potential home-court advantage throughout the playoffs – there won’t be a bubble this year – the Jazz still aren’t among the top-three title favourites. They are fourth at +700 behind the Lakers (+250), Nets (+275) and Clippers (+500).
It would be incredibly tough to beat both L.A. teams in the Western Conference playoffs, so Utah has to hope the Lakers and Clippers perhaps face off in the West semifinals if the seeding works out right and then Utah gets whatever team is left standing in the West finals. If arenas are allowed to be full of fans come playoff time, Utah could win the West as it’s one of the loudest arenas in the NBA and it’s a huge home-court advantage.
The Jazz had three All-Stars this season in Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and injury replacement Mike Conley – he had been arguably the most accomplished active player in the NBA yet to make an All-Star team. Gobert is annually a Defensive Player of the Year candidate (not to mention annually a candidate to lead the league in rebounding and/or blocked shots) and has won it twice.
The Dinos swept Utah last season, have taken the past four in the series and have covered eight of the past 10 against the spread. Overall, the Jazz lead the series 27-20.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz could be a bit on fumes here as it’s their fourth game of a five-game trip and second of a back-to-back. They were without All-Star point guard Mike Conley on Thursday in Washington but simply for rest so he’ll play here. The Jazz were shocked 131-122 as double-digit favourites. Utah is a Top 5 defensive team in the league so allowing Washington score that many points and shoot 54.7 per cent is definitely a surprise but these things happen at the end of road trips and when a back-to-back is involved.
Donovan Mitchell had 42 points in the loss and Joe Ingles, starting for Conley, had a career-high 34 points. Ingles should head back to the bench Friday. Utah, 4-0 ATS in its past four in the second of a back-to-back, has no Canadian players on its roster.
Toronto Raptors
If the Raptors miss the playoffs by a game or two (the postseason is looking less likely by the day), remember that they are 0-2 thus far against the awful Detroit Pistons. The Dinos got all their players back but OG Anunoby from COVID protocols Wednesday yet lost their sixth in a row, 116-112 in Detroit. Pistons rookie Saddiq Bey looked like LeBron James for a night with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Former Raptor Delon Wright had 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The Dinos were absolutely pummeled on the boards to the tune of a 54-30 disadvantage.
Nick Nurse finally started Chris Boucher, and he had 21 points and five rebounds. Norman Powell had a career-high 43 points on 14-for-18 shoot. However, no one else played very well. Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet were each 2-for-13 from the field against a not-exactly-good defence. Pascal Siakam was 3-for11. Still, we like the upset Friday (at worst a cover) against a tired Jazz team and with Anunoby expected to return. Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its past six vs. teams with a winning record.
UTA
TOR