The Los Angeles Clippers (4-1) visit Salt Lake City on New Year’s Day to play the Utah Jazz (2-2) in the Vivint Smart Home Arena at 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Clippers-Jazz NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Los Angeles rebounded from a 51-point stomping by the Dallas Mavericks Sunday to win, and cover, two straight against the Minnesota Timberwolves (124-101 Tuesday) and the Portland Trail Blazers (128-105 Wednesday) – all three games were at home. SF Kawhi Leonard returned vs. Portland, donning a faceguard, after a two-game absence due to a mouth injury suffered as a result of a collision with teammate C Serge Ibaka in their Christmas victory at the Denver Nuggets.
The Jazz didn’t get much of a holiday as they lost to the Phoenix Suns on New Year’s Eve 106-95 as 4-point home underdogs. The key factor in Utah’s loss was the Jazz being a little worse in the 3-point department. The Suns were 51.5% on 3’s (17 of 33) and the Jazz shot 35.3% (12 of 34).
Utah was one of the few teams that won the regular-season series over Los Angeles in 2019-20, going 2-1 outright and ATS vs. the Clippers last season. The last time they met the Jazz beat a Clippers team that had both Leonard and SG Paul George in the lineup, which was a rare regular-season sight, in Los Angeles 120-107 as 7.5-point underdogs.
Clippers at Jazz: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:38 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Clippers -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Jazz +135 (bet $100 to win $135)
- Against the spread/ATS: Clippers -3.5 (-110) | Jazz +3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Clippers at Jazz: Key Injuries
Clippers
- PF Marcus Morris (knee) out
Jazz
- None
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Clippers at Jazz: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Jazz 116, Clippers 110
Money line (ML)
The better play is Utah plus the points, but I’m down to sprinkle a quarter-unit on JAZZ (+135) with the plan of betting the spread heavier. The Clippers have lost five straight in Utah and the Jazz being home underdogs is pretty rare. The Jazz have been spotted points in Utah just four times since 2018—and are 3-1 outright in that situation with a 5.8-point average margin of victory.
Against the spread (ATS)
Not only are the Jazz 4-0 ATS as home underdogs since 2018, but they have the third-highest cover percentage as underdogs in that time span. It’s a perfect buy-low spot for the Jazz, who’ve lost three straight ATS but are completely healthy.
The Jazz’s 3-point shooting hasn’t come around yet, but they led the NBA in 3-point percentage last season and will break out of their slump eventually. New Year’s Day is the perfect time for the Jazz to turn it around from deep after three consecutive subpar shooting performances. Also, Utah is the best rebounding team in the league and Los Angeles is a net negative in rebounds per game. GIMME JAZZ +3.5 (-110) for 1.5 units.
Over/Under (O/U)
The market is hammering the Under, driving it down from the 225-point opener to the current price. Aside from the stinker vs. the Mavericks, the Clippers’ offense has looked great this season: Seventh in both offensive rating and 3-point percentage. Plus, I’ve already stated why the Jazz are due for a slump-buster performance from their offense.
PASS ON THE TOTAL.
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