The Utah Jazz are no longer the hot team in the Western Conference. That title belongs to the Portland Trail Blazers who are fighting tooth and nail to get themselves back in the playoff picture.
Portland lands in Utah where it hopes to hand the Jazz their sixth straight defeat.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Blazers enter Friday’s matchup the winners of five of their last six games, including on Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Portland is 5-1 against the spread during the same stretch and now just 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the West.
There are a number of trends to make Portland supporters hesitant backing their club on Friday. The Blazers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 road games, 5-11 ATS in their 16 games as underdogs and 4-9-1 ATS in their last 14 outings playing on zero days’ rest.
Betting the Over has been a profitable play for Portland. The Over is 9-1 in the squad’s last 10 contests and 29-23 on the season. The Blazers won at home on Saturday against the Jazz but they’re just 2-6 ATS in their last eight visits to Salt Lake City.
Utah lost on Wednesday night to the Denver Nuggets and failed to cover as a 10-point home favourite. The Jazz are winless in their last five games and 0-5-1 against the number in their last six games.
Utah is 18-5 SU and 12-10-1 ATS on its home floor this season, but 0-2 (SU & ATS) in its last two games in front of its home fans.
Nearly 80 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Blazers to cover as 8.5-point underdogs while 92 percent expect the game to go Over the 226.5-point total.
Portland Trail Blazers
High-scoring games are back on the menu in Portland. The Blazers are averaging a league-best 119.1 points per 100 possessions over their last 10 games. The club has scored 124 or more points in six of its last seven games.
The most interesting player to watch in Portland these days is Hassan Whiteside. Brought in as an injury replacement for Jusuf Nurkic, Whiteside is giving the Blazers elite-level production at the pivot position.
Nurkic is scheduled to return from injury later this month or next. Whether he’ll be able to reclaim his starting position is another discussion. Whiteside is averaging 15.8 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.
Utah Jazz
It’s pretty clear the Mike Conley trade isn’t working out for the Jazz. Conley was seen as the missing piece in Utah when the Jazz traded for the longtime Grizzlies point guard. But he hasn’t been able to fit in properly in Salt Lake City.
Utah’s net rating with Conley on the floor is +1.1 and +5.8 without him. The Jazz are also 15-5 SU in games without Conley this season and 17-13 with him.
Who Will Win Trail Blazers vs. Jazz?
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TRAIL BLAZERS
106 -
JAZZ
109
Score
Prediction
Line History
No odds are available yet.
Injuries
Wenyen Gabriel (PF)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
CJ McCollum (SG)
Zach Collins (PF)
Nassir Little (SF)
CJ McCollum (SG)
Hassan Whiteside (C)
Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)
Ed Davis (C)
Mike Conley (PG)
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Juwan Morgan (PF)
Mike Conley (PG)
Joe Ingles (SF)
Royce O'Neale (SF)
Royce O'Neale (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wenyen Gabriel (PF) | Out Sat | Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
|
Gabriel is battling right quad tendinitis and will not be available to face the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Sat | Back - 25 / 08 / 20 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
McCollum is expected to take the court against the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Mon | Back - 23 / 08 / 20 | 0-3 | 1-2 | + - |
|
McCollum is battling a vertebral fracture, but he is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Sat | Back - 22 / 08 / 20 | 0-3 | 1-2 | + - |
|
McCollum is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Thurs | Back - 19 / 08 / 20 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
McCollum is expected to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Tues | Back - 17 / 08 / 20 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
McCollum is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture. |
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| Zach Collins (PF) | out for season | Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Collins will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a hairline medial malleolus stress fracture of his left ankle. |
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| Nassir Little (SF) | Early Sept | Illness - 13 / 08 / 20 | 2-5 | 4-3 | + - |
|
Little has been ailing from dehydration, and he is expected to miss at least two weeks. |
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| CJ McCollum (SG) | Prob Thurs | Back - 11 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 5-3 | + - |
|
McCollum is expected to play Thursday against the Nets despite a fracture in his lower back. |
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| Hassan Whiteside (C) | Prob Tues | Hip - 08 / 08 / 20 | 4-6 | 7-3 | + - |
|
Whiteside has missed the previous two contests due to a left hip strain. It is unlikely to affect his status for Tuesday's game against the Mavericks. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Wright-Foreman (PG) | Out indefinitely | Personal - 16 / 08 / 20 | 3-4 | 5-2 | + - |
|
Wright-Foreman will miss an extended period after leaving the NBA bubble for a personal reason. |
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| Ed Davis (C) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Davis suffered an MLC injury in his left knee, and there is no timetable for return. |
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| Mike Conley (PG) | Prob Fri | Personal - 12 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Conley has returned to the NBA bubble after attending the birth of his son, but he is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets. |
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| Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) | Prob Mon | Knee - 12 / 08 / 20 | 3-5 | 6-2 | + - |
|
Mudiay is nursing soreness in his left knee, but he is projected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets. |
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| Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) | Ques Mon | Knee - 08 / 08 / 20 | 4-6 | 8-2 | + - |
|
Mudiay sat out the previous game due to soreness in his left knee, and it is unclear if he will take the court for Monday's contest versus the Mavericks. |
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| Juwan Morgan (PF) | Prob Thurs | Knee - 07 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Morgan is out of action with a sore right knee, but he is likely to return Thursday against the Spurs. |
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| Mike Conley (PG) | Prob Sat | Knee - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Conley missed the last game with a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that it will not prevent him from playing Saturday against the Nuggets. |
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| Joe Ingles (SF) | Prob Fri | Foot - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
Ingles is projected to be available against the Spurs on Friday despite a sore right foot. |
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| Royce O'Neale (SF) | Prob Sat | Calf - 06 / 08 / 20 | 5-6 | 9-2 | + - |
|
O'Neale missed the previous contest due to right calf soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Nuggets on Saturday. |
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| Royce O'Neale (SF) | Prob Mon | Foot - 03 / 08 / 20 | 5-8 | 10-3 | + - |
|
O'Neale is battling a sore right foot, but he is likely to take the court against the Lakers on Monday. |
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Line History
No odds are available yet.
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Injuries
Wenyen Gabriel (PF)
Out Sat Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 25 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Mon Back - 23 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Sat Back - 22 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Thurs Back - 19 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Tues Back - 17 / 08 / 20Zach Collins (PF)
out for season Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20Nassir Little (SF)
Early Sept Illness - 13 / 08 / 20CJ McCollum (SG)
Prob Thurs Back - 11 / 08 / 20Hassan Whiteside (C)
Prob Tues Hip - 08 / 08 / 20Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)
Out indefinitely Personal - 16 / 08 / 20Ed Davis (C)
Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 08 / 20Mike Conley (PG)
Prob Fri Personal - 12 / 08 / 20Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)
Ques Mon Knee - 08 / 08 / 20Juwan Morgan (PF)
Prob Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20Mike Conley (PG)
Prob Sat Knee - 06 / 08 / 20Joe Ingles (SF)
Prob Fri Foot - 06 / 08 / 20Royce O'Neale (SF)
Prob Sat Calf - 06 / 08 / 20Royce O'Neale (SF)
Prob Mon Foot - 03 / 08 / 20Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Wenyen Gabriel (PF) Out Sat Quadricep - 29 / 08 / 20 0-0 0-0 + - Gabriel is battling right quad tendinitis and will not be available to face the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Sat Back - 25 / 08 / 20 0-2 1-1 + - McCollum is expected to take the court against the Lakers in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Mon Back - 23 / 08 / 20 0-3 1-2 + - McCollum is battling a vertebral fracture, but he is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Sat Back - 22 / 08 / 20 0-3 1-2 + - McCollum is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Thurs Back - 19 / 08 / 20 1-4 2-3 + - McCollum is expected to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round versus the Lakers despite a vertebral fracture.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Tues Back - 17 / 08 / 20 1-4 2-3 + - McCollum is likely to take on the Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round despite a vertebral fracture.
Zach Collins (PF) out for season Ankle - 16 / 08 / 20 1-4 2-3 + - Collins will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a hairline medial malleolus stress fracture of his left ankle.
Nassir Little (SF) Early Sept Illness - 13 / 08 / 20 2-5 4-3 + - Little has been ailing from dehydration, and he is expected to miss at least two weeks.
CJ McCollum (SG) Prob Thurs Back - 11 / 08 / 20 3-5 5-3 + - McCollum is expected to play Thursday against the Nets despite a fracture in his lower back.
Hassan Whiteside (C) Prob Tues Hip - 08 / 08 / 20 4-6 7-3 + - Whiteside has missed the previous two contests due to a left hip strain. It is unlikely to affect his status for Tuesday's game against the Mavericks.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Justin Wright-Foreman (PG) Out indefinitely Personal - 16 / 08 / 20 3-4 5-2 + - Wright-Foreman will miss an extended period after leaving the NBA bubble for a personal reason.
Ed Davis (C) Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Davis suffered an MLC injury in his left knee, and there is no timetable for return.
Mike Conley (PG) Prob Fri Personal - 12 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Conley has returned to the NBA bubble after attending the birth of his son, but he is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20 3-5 6-2 + - Mudiay is nursing soreness in his left knee, but he is projected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG) Ques Mon Knee - 08 / 08 / 20 4-6 8-2 + - Mudiay sat out the previous game due to soreness in his left knee, and it is unclear if he will take the court for Monday's contest versus the Mavericks.
Juwan Morgan (PF) Prob Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Morgan is out of action with a sore right knee, but he is likely to return Thursday against the Spurs.
Mike Conley (PG) Prob Sat Knee - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Conley missed the last game with a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that it will not prevent him from playing Saturday against the Nuggets.
Joe Ingles (SF) Prob Fri Foot - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - Ingles is projected to be available against the Spurs on Friday despite a sore right foot.
Royce O'Neale (SF) Prob Sat Calf - 06 / 08 / 20 5-6 9-2 + - O'Neale missed the previous contest due to right calf soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Nuggets on Saturday.
Royce O'Neale (SF) Prob Mon Foot - 03 / 08 / 20 5-8 10-3 + - O'Neale is battling a sore right foot, but he is likely to take the court against the Lakers on Monday.