The 1-seed Utah Jazz (2-3) try to keep their season alive when they meet the 4-seed Los Angeles Clippers (3-2) Friday for Game 6 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Below, we analyze the Jazz-Clippers odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
L.A. shockingly took a series lead in Game 5 by beating Utah 119-111 despite losing their All-NBA leading scorer Kawhi Leonard with a sprained knee in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
Utah went crazy from behind the arc in the first half, sinking 17-of-30 threes but L.A. took the Jazz’s best punch and responded.
The Clippers’ other All-NBA-caliber star—Paul George—stepped up in an epic way with game-highs with 37 points (on 54.5% shooting), 16 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Jazz at Clippers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:09 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Jazz -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Clippers +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread/ATS: Jazz -2 (-110) | Clippers +2 (-110)
- Over/Under: 219.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Jazz at Clippers: Key injuries
Jazz
- SG Donovan Mitchell (ankle) questionable
- PG Mike Conley (hamstring) questionable
Clippers
- SF Kawhi Leonard (knee) out
Special NBA Playoff Promotion!
Place a $1 bet on either team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a 3-pointer during the game.
Promotion available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C.
Place all of your legal, online sports bets at BetMGM! Terms and conditions apply. Bet now!
Jazz at Clippers: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Clippers 112, Jazz 105
Money line (ML)
GIMME the CLIPPERS (+110) for 1.25 units to end this series in Game 6 since I haven’t been a believer in the Jazz’s title chances all year because of Utah’s reliance on making insanely difficult shots.
Furthermore, Clippers head coach Ty Lue made great adjustments in Game 5 to offset the loss of Kawhi and exploit Rudy Gobert‘s weakness in defending ballhandlers like Clippers PG Reggie Jackson.
L.A. is going with small ball rotations and either pulling Gobert away from the basket to open driving lanes or, if Gobert doesn’t go out to the 3-point line, making Utah pay by hitting threes.
Also, even if Mitchell wasn’t battling an ankle issue, I’d still make the argument the Clippers have the best player on the floor with PG and Conley’s questionable status significantly weakens Utah’s offense.
In order for the Jazz to win, they need to shoot incredibly well from deep because Utah’s offense consists of 3-point stepbacks since they haven’t been able to use their pick-and-roll action as much with Mitchell’s health being compromised and Conley missing the entire series thus far.
I could see an elite wing exploiting L.A. not having Kawhi out there on the floor but Utah doesn’t really have that.
Clippers guards Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, and, in crunch time, PG can force Mitchell into tough shots, while Gobert is not very useful on offense unless he’s a roll man for Mitchell or Conley.
If SG Jordan Clarkson and SF Joel Ingles fill this missing void or the Jazz get insanely hot from behind the arc then so be it, but I’m on the CLIPPERS (+110) to end this series in L.A.
Play our new free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS unless the Clippers +2 (-110) gets to +2.5 or higher, then I’d take the points with L.A.
Over/Under (O/U)
“LEAN” to the UNDER 219.5 (-110) for a half unit as a “contrarian play” against a betting market that is barreling into the Over at a 72% clip (according to Pregame.com).
Moreover, this Jazz-Clippers series has been very slow-paced at just 93.1 possessions per 48 minutes (for perspective, the New York Knicks had the slowest pace in the regular season at 95.9 possessions per 48 minutes).
Given the Jazz’s injuries in their backcourt, I’d assume Utah isn’t keen on getting into an uptempo game and the Clippers don’t have the guns to get into a shootout.
If Game 6 plays to the series average in pace then an off-shooting quarter puts the Over in jeopardy so I’ll take my chances with the UNDER 219.5 (-110).
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional NBA sports coverage:
HoopsHype | Celtics Wire | LeBron Wire | Lonzo Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]