Two of the three best players in this series could be sitting out in Game 2 because of separate injuries in a hotly-contested Western Conference matchup between the No. 4 and 5 seeds.
The Jazz’s defensive reputation took a kick in the musical notes after giving up 116 points in Game 1 against the Thunder. Utah owned the league’s second best defense during the regular season and had allowed more than 110 points in just 10 games all year.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 16 Apr 12:29pm | UTA | -4.5 -110 | O +206 -110 |
| Closing 19 Apr 12:59am | UTA | -3.5 -110 | O +207.5 -110 |
The Jazz were an average team away from home and went 21-19-1 against the spread in road games during the campaign. They’re also 3-4 ATS in their last seven games away from Salt Lake City.
Oklahoma City turned up the intensity and Playoff P, Paul George’s new self-titled moniker, found his shooting stroke. The Thunder made nearly half their attempts from distance thanks to George’s eight made triples and they let Ricky Rubio shoot the Jazz out of the game.
OKC went from -130 series favourites to -250 following the Game 1 victory in the Sports Interaction NBA futures book. The Jazz are paying +175 to win the series.
Utah Jazz
Utah is hoping its do-everything rookie Donovan Mitchell will be available for Wednesday’s pivotal contest. The high-flying shooting guard hurt his toe during play in Game 1 and is considered questionable to play in Game 2. He said the injury wouldn’t keep him from playing but the Jazz won’t endanger the new face of their franchise from doing serious damage to the toe.
It Mitchell is a no-go expect more minutes for guards Dante Exum and Alec Burks. The bench duo went a combined 8-for-10 from the field in Game 1 but both players are new fixtures to the rotation. Exum is coming back from a serious knee injury while Burks’ took to the pine once it became clear Mitchell had star qualities.
Oklahoma City Thunder
News came out late Tuesday night that George might not play in Game 2 because of a hip injury. Thunder coach Billy Donovan told the media George was unable to practice on Tuesday because of the soreness in his hip and that he’d wait to see if PG practices on Wednesday before updating his status for Game 2. George was OKC Game 1 leading scorer with 36 points on 13-for-20 shooting from the field.
Injuries
Dante Exum (PG)
Royce O'Neale (SF)
Derrick Favors (PF)
Ricky Rubio (PG)
Jae Crowder (SF)
Joe Ingles (SF)
Tony Bradley (C)
Raul Neto (PG)
Joe Johnson (SG)
Derrick Rose (PG)
Steven Adams (C)
Corey Brewer (SG)
Alex Abrines (SG)
Terrance Ferguson (SG)
Carmelo Anthony (SF)
Doug McDermott (SF)
Enes Kanter (C)
Isaiah Canaan (PG)
Andre Roberson (SG)
Patrick Patterson (PF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dante Exum (PG) | Ques Tues | Hamstring - 06 / 05 / 18 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
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Exum is dealing with a strained left hamstring and it is uncertain if he will play against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round. |
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| Royce O'Neale (SF) | day-to-day | Knee - 06 / 05 / 18 | 0-2 | 0-2 | + - |
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O'Neale left Sunday's game with a right knee injury and it is unknown if he will return. |
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| Derrick Favors (PF) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 05 / 05 / 18 | 1-2 | 1-2 | + - |
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Favors sprained his left ankle in the previous game but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the Rockets. |
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| Ricky Rubio (PG) | Ques Tues | Hamstring - 28 / 04 / 18 | 1-5 | 1-5 | + - |
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Rubio is sidelined with a left hamstring strain and it is unknown if he will return for Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Rockets. |
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| Jae Crowder (SF) | Prob Sun | Eye - 05 / 04 / 18 | 7-8 | 7-8 | + - |
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Crowder exited the last game with a corneal abrasion in his left eye but is expected to play Sunday against the Lakers. |
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| Joe Ingles (SF) | Prob Thurs | Knee - 04 / 04 / 18 | 8-8 | 8-8 | + - |
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Ingles is likely to play Thursday against the Clippers despite a right knee contusion. |
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| Tony Bradley (C) | Ques Fri | Concussion - 13 / 03 / 18 | 12-14 | 14-12 | + - |
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Bradley has been cleared from a concussion but it is unknown if he will draw back into the lineup against the Grizzlies on Friday. |
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| Raul Neto (PG) | Mid April | Wrist - 12 / 03 / 18 | 12-14 | 14-12 | + - |
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Neto has been diagnosed with a fractured left wrist but is aiming to return to the lineup by the middle of April. |
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| Joe Johnson (SG) | Prob Wed | Acquired - 14 / 02 / 18 | 16-20 | 16-20 | + - |
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Johnson has been recently acquired by the Rockets and is expected to be available for Wednesday's game against the Kings. |
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| Derrick Rose (PG) | Doub Sun | Acquired - 10 / 02 / 18 | 18-21 | 17-22 | + - |
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Rose was recently acquired but is unlikely to play against the Trail Blazers on Sunday. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Adams (C) | day-to-day | Hand - 18 / 04 / 18 | 2-3 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Adams left Wednesday's game due to a right hand injury and it is unclear if he will return. |
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| Corey Brewer (SG) | Prob Wed | Knee - 17 / 04 / 18 | 2-3 | 3-2 | + - |
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Brewer is dealing a sprained knee but is likely to play Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz. |
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| Alex Abrines (SG) | Prob Sun | Concussion - 09 / 04 / 18 | 4-4 | 4-4 | + - |
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Abrines is recovering from a concussion but is likely to be active for Game 1 the Western Conference first round against the Jazz. |
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| Terrance Ferguson (SG) | Prob Mon | Concussion - 08 / 03 / 18 | 10-11 | 9-13 | + - |
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Ferguson missed the previous game as he is working his way through the concussion protocol but is likely to be available against the Kings on Monday. |
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| Carmelo Anthony (SF) | Out Sat | Rest - 03 / 03 / 18 | 11-13 | 11-14 | + - |
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Anthony is not expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Trail Blazers as he will be given the day to rest. |
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| Doug McDermott (SF) | Prob Sat | Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18 | 14-18 | 15-18 | + - |
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McDermott has been acquired in a trade and is expected to be available Saturday against the Lakers. |
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| Enes Kanter (C) | Prob Sun | Mouth - 07 / 02 / 18 | 14-19 | 15-19 | + - |
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Kanter sat out the last game after undergoing oral surgery to repair a lip laceration but is expected to be available Sunday against the Pacers. |
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| Isaiah Canaan (PG) | out for season | Leg - 01 / 02 / 18 | 14-22 | 16-21 | + - |
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Canaan underwent surgery to fix a fractured left ankle and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. |
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| Andre Roberson (SG) | out for season | Knee - 27 / 01 / 18 | 17-22 | 19-21 | + - |
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Roberson ruptured his left patellar tendon and will require surgery to repair the injury. He is expected to miss the remainder of the season. |
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| Patrick Patterson (PF) | Prob Thurs | Wrist - 24 / 01 / 18 | 18-23 | 21-21 | + - |
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Patterson has a wrist injury but is expected to play Thursday against the Wizards. |
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Jazz vs. Thunder Game 2 Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 16 Apr 12:29pm UTA -4.5 -110 O +206 -110 Closing 19 Apr 12:59am UTA -3.5 -110 O +207.5 -110 -
Injuries
Dante Exum (PG)
Ques Tues Hamstring - 06 / 05 / 18Royce O'Neale (SF)
day-to-day Knee - 06 / 05 / 18Derrick Favors (PF)
Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 18Ricky Rubio (PG)
Ques Tues Hamstring - 28 / 04 / 18Jae Crowder (SF)
Prob Sun Eye - 05 / 04 / 18Joe Ingles (SF)
Prob Thurs Knee - 04 / 04 / 18Tony Bradley (C)
Ques Fri Concussion - 13 / 03 / 18Raul Neto (PG)
Mid April Wrist - 12 / 03 / 18Joe Johnson (SG)
Prob Wed Acquired - 14 / 02 / 18Derrick Rose (PG)
Doub Sun Acquired - 10 / 02 / 18Steven Adams (C)
day-to-day Hand - 18 / 04 / 18Corey Brewer (SG)
Prob Wed Knee - 17 / 04 / 18Alex Abrines (SG)
Prob Sun Concussion - 09 / 04 / 18Terrance Ferguson (SG)
Prob Mon Concussion - 08 / 03 / 18Carmelo Anthony (SF)
Out Sat Rest - 03 / 03 / 18Doug McDermott (SF)
Prob Sat Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18Enes Kanter (C)
Prob Sun Mouth - 07 / 02 / 18Isaiah Canaan (PG)
out for season Leg - 01 / 02 / 18Andre Roberson (SG)
out for season Knee - 27 / 01 / 18Patrick Patterson (PF)
Prob Thurs Wrist - 24 / 01 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Dante Exum (PG) Ques Tues Hamstring - 06 / 05 / 18 0-2 0-2 + - Exum is dealing with a strained left hamstring and it is uncertain if he will play against the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference second round.
Royce O'Neale (SF) day-to-day Knee - 06 / 05 / 18 0-2 0-2 + - O'Neale left Sunday's game with a right knee injury and it is unknown if he will return.
Derrick Favors (PF) Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 18 1-2 1-2 + - Favors sprained his left ankle in the previous game but is expected to be in the lineup Sunday for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the Rockets.
Ricky Rubio (PG) Ques Tues Hamstring - 28 / 04 / 18 1-5 1-5 + - Rubio is sidelined with a left hamstring strain and it is unknown if he will return for Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Rockets.
Jae Crowder (SF) Prob Sun Eye - 05 / 04 / 18 7-8 7-8 + - Crowder exited the last game with a corneal abrasion in his left eye but is expected to play Sunday against the Lakers.
Joe Ingles (SF) Prob Thurs Knee - 04 / 04 / 18 8-8 8-8 + - Ingles is likely to play Thursday against the Clippers despite a right knee contusion.
Tony Bradley (C) Ques Fri Concussion - 13 / 03 / 18 12-14 14-12 + - Bradley has been cleared from a concussion but it is unknown if he will draw back into the lineup against the Grizzlies on Friday.
Raul Neto (PG) Mid April Wrist - 12 / 03 / 18 12-14 14-12 + - Neto has been diagnosed with a fractured left wrist but is aiming to return to the lineup by the middle of April.
Joe Johnson (SG) Prob Wed Acquired - 14 / 02 / 18 16-20 16-20 + - Johnson has been recently acquired by the Rockets and is expected to be available for Wednesday's game against the Kings.
Derrick Rose (PG) Doub Sun Acquired - 10 / 02 / 18 18-21 17-22 + - Rose was recently acquired but is unlikely to play against the Trail Blazers on Sunday.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Steven Adams (C) day-to-day Hand - 18 / 04 / 18 2-3 3-2 + - Adams left Wednesday's game due to a right hand injury and it is unclear if he will return.
Corey Brewer (SG) Prob Wed Knee - 17 / 04 / 18 2-3 3-2 + - Brewer is dealing a sprained knee but is likely to play Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Jazz.
Alex Abrines (SG) Prob Sun Concussion - 09 / 04 / 18 4-4 4-4 + - Abrines is recovering from a concussion but is likely to be active for Game 1 the Western Conference first round against the Jazz.
Terrance Ferguson (SG) Prob Mon Concussion - 08 / 03 / 18 10-11 9-13 + - Ferguson missed the previous game as he is working his way through the concussion protocol but is likely to be available against the Kings on Monday.
Carmelo Anthony (SF) Out Sat Rest - 03 / 03 / 18 11-13 11-14 + - Anthony is not expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Trail Blazers as he will be given the day to rest.
Doug McDermott (SF) Prob Sat Acquired - 08 / 02 / 18 14-18 15-18 + - McDermott has been acquired in a trade and is expected to be available Saturday against the Lakers.
Enes Kanter (C) Prob Sun Mouth - 07 / 02 / 18 14-19 15-19 + - Kanter sat out the last game after undergoing oral surgery to repair a lip laceration but is expected to be available Sunday against the Pacers.
Isaiah Canaan (PG) out for season Leg - 01 / 02 / 18 14-22 16-21 + - Canaan underwent surgery to fix a fractured left ankle and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Andre Roberson (SG) out for season Knee - 27 / 01 / 18 17-22 19-21 + - Roberson ruptured his left patellar tendon and will require surgery to repair the injury. He is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Patrick Patterson (PF) Prob Thurs Wrist - 24 / 01 / 18 18-23 21-21 + - Patterson has a wrist injury but is expected to play Thursday against the Wizards.