An OKC first-round loss all but assures Paul George will bolt in free agency and will cement Utah rookie Donovan Mitchell’s place in NBA playoff folklore.
Legacies are on the line on Wednesday night when the Jazz return to Oklahoma City with a chance to knockout the much-hyped but underachieving Thunder.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 24 Apr 4:10pm | UTA | -3.5 -110 | O +208 -110 |
| Closing 26 Apr 12:09am | UTA | -3 -110 | O +208 -110 |
Utah improved to 3-1 straight up and against the spread in the playoffs and the club is 6-2 ATS in its last eight games overall. The Jazz have won 32 of their last 39 games dating back to the end of January.
The Thunder are at home and favoured in Game 5 but that’s not necessarily good news for their backers. OKC is just 16-24-1 ATS in its last 41 home games when giving points. Only the Cleveland Cavaliers have a worst overall ATS record this year than the Thunder at 35-50-1.
The over is 3-1 in the series thanks in large part to Utah’s offensive production. The Jazz are averaging 109.5 points per game in the first four games and the over is 11-5 in their last 16 contests.
About 67 percent of SIA’s customers are backing the Thunder to bounce back in Game 5 and cover the number as 3.5-point chalk.
Utah are -1000 faves to win the first round series while the Thunder are playing +485 to come back from the 3-1 deficit and move onto the next round according to the Sports Interaction NBA futures board.
Utah Jazz
He’s not shouldering the scoring load or putting up giant counting stats but Jazz centre Rudy Gobert is forcing the Thunder to second guess every drive to the paint. Utah’s defensive rating is nearly 12 full points better when Gobert is on the floor than when he’s on the bench. The Frenchman is averaging 15.3 points, 11 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in the series and is expected to be named the Defensive Player of the Year winner sometime in the next couple weeks.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook was expected to win the playoffs this time a year ago but if he falls out in the first round again this year the media won’t go as easy on the 2017 MVP winner. OKC brought in Carmelo Anthony and Paul George to help Westbrook win now and there were many people who projected the Thunder as a dark horse contender to win the Western Conference back in October.
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 | + - |
|
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. |
|||||
Jazz vs. Thunder Game 5 Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 24 Apr 4:10pm UTA -3.5 -110 O +208 -110 Closing 26 Apr 12:09am UTA -3 -110 O +208 -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.