The Utah Jazz Are Making Sweet, Sweet Music

Where did this come from?

The Utah Jazz, a solid-but-unspectacular team competing in the ridiculously-tough Western Conference, were considered also-ran challengers at the beginning of this season. But that was then, and this is now. Utah’s recent form has people thinking otherwise.

On Sunday night, the Jazz completed a comeback for the ages, erasing a 64-39 deficit against the Portland Trail Blazers to come back and win in stirring overtime fashion, 93-89.

The win meant the Jazz have won 17 of their last 19 (they also swept the season series with Portland 4-0) and moved to within a half-game of Denver for the Northwest Division lead.

From a NBA betting perspective, Utah has been a true statistical anomaly as of late.  The team has a tremendous record both straight up (36-19, 65.5%) and against the spread (34-18-3, 65.4%), one of the few NBA teams to accomplish such a feat. Where the Jazz really feast, however, is when they play against the Eastern Conference — Utah is 14-5 SU against the East and an impressive 13-5-1 ATS (72.2%)

So, you ask — how is Utah doing it? Balance, balance and more balance.  The starting five all average at least 11.6 points per game, while key role players like CJ Miles, Wesley Matthews and Kyle Korver are all solid options off the bench. The dynamic duo of Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams are the pistons that push the engine — both are double-double machines, Boozer doing it with points and rebounds while Williams does it with points and assists — but something has to be said about the improved play of Andrei Kirilenko. The talented-but-enigmatic Russian has upped his scoring from last year (12.3ppg from 11.6) and is providing the same sort of hustle-oriented, do-it-all plays that make him a fan favourite in the early parts of his career.

So, can the Jazz keep it up? Tonight, they host the Atlanta Hawks (2.70) — one of the aforementioned Eastern Conference teams the Jazz have dominated this season — as a 1.50 home court favourite. To check out all NBA basketball betting odds and other sports betting options, head on over to the Sports Interaction online sportsbook today!