The slumping Utah Jazz (30-19) head to the FedExForum Friday to play the surging Memphis Grizzlies (33-17) at 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Jazz vs. Grizzlies odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Utah has lost five of its past six games including three straight, but the three consecutive losses came against the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns (twice). The Jazz are 2-8 straight-up (SU) and 2-7-1 against the spread (ATS) in the last 10 games.
Memphis has alternated wins and losses over the past seven games with the latest being a 118-110 victory at the San Antonio Spurs as a 4-point road favorite Wednesday. The Grizzlies are 7-3 SU/ATS over the last 10 games.
The Grizzlies (+11) upset the Jazz 119-119 in their first meeting this season (Nov. 22). Memphis PG Ja Morant, SG Desmond Bane and PF Jaren Jackson Jr. scored a combined 86 points and the Grizzlies won three of the “four factors” in that meeting.
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Jazz at Grizzlies odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:34 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Jazz +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Grizzlies -205 (bet $205 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Jazz +4.5 (-102) | Grizzlies -4.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Jazz at Grizzlies key injuries
Jazz
- C Rudy Gobert (calf) out
- SG Donovan Mitchell (concussion) out
Grizzlies
- SF Kyle Anderson (health and safety protocols) out
- SF Dillon Brooks (ankle) out
- PG Tyus Jones (health and safety protocols) out
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Jazz at Grizzlies odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Grizzlies 117, Jazz 109
Money line
PASS.
Memphis is the right side, especially with the absence of Gobert, but the Grizzlies (-205) are too expensive.
The Jazz are just 1-6 SU in games Gobert has missed, so the Grizzlies should have a lot of success attacking the rim and scoring in the paint.
Against the spread
BET the GRIZZLIES -4.5 (-122).
They are in much better form than the Jazz heading into Friday, and the absence of Gobert looms large for Utah in this matchup.
Memphis attempts the sixth-highest rate of field goals at the rim and the highest volume of short mid-range shots, according to CleaningTheGlass.com (CTG).
However, Utah’s opponents shoot 4.4% better at the rim and 4.1% better in the short mid-range when Gobert is off the floor. So, the Grizzlies will be able to exploit this obvious flaw in the Jazz’s defense.
Also, Utah can get kind of careless with the rock and. The Jazz are 21st in offensive-turnover rate (TOV%) and 25th in points off of turnovers allowed per game. This should be trouble against a Memphis team, which is fourth in defensive TOV% and third in points off of turnovers per game.
BET the GRIZZLIES -4.5 (-122) for 1 unit.
Over/Under
PASS since my prediction isn’t too far from the projected total and there’s not a lot of value in this number for me.
Utah is 10-13-1 O/U on the road and Memphis is 12-13-1 O/U at home, but the Over has cashed in nine of the last 10 Jazz-Grizzlies meetings.
This total is too tough to call.
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