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The Utah Jazz (7-21) and Portland Trail Blazers (9-20) meet Thursday at Moda Center in Portland. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (NBA TV). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Jazz vs. Trail Blazers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Jazz lead 1-0
Utah won 141-99 at Portland Dec. 6 as 4-point underdogs with the Over (223.5) cashing. Utah shot 55.2% from the field, and 43.8% (14 of 32) from behind the 3-point line, while posting a plus-27 rebounding margin in that first meeting. It was the first time in franchise history Utah had 9 different players hit double digits in scoring, per NBA.com.
The Jazz lost 124-113 last time out at the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday, but Utah covered as a 14-point underdog. The Jazz have covered 3 in a row, while going 7-1 in the past 8 games. Utah has hit the Over in 7 of the past 8 games, too, including that 42-point dog-walking of Portland.
The Trail Blazers suffered a 132-108 loss Monday at the Dallas Mavericks, failing to cover as 12.5-point underdogs as the Over (228.5) cashed. The Blazers are just 3-6 ATS in 9 December games, while winning only one of those games outright. The Over has a slight edge in the span.
Jazz at Trail Blazers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 4:08 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Jazz +125 (bet $100 to win $105) | Trail Blazers -150 (bet $150 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Jazz +2.5 (-105) | Trail Blazers -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 225.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Jazz at Trail Blazers key injuries
Jazz
- G Jordan Clarkson (foot) out
- F John Collins (hip) out
- G Keyonte George (ankle) out
Trail Blazers
- F Dalano Banton (hip) questionable
- C Robert Williams III (ankle) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Jazz at Trail Blazers picks and predictions
Prediction
Jazz 122, Trail Blazers 115
Moneyline
The JAZZ (+125) are an intriguing play as underdogs, especially since they ran through the Trail Blazers (-150) by 42 points in their place earlier in the month.
While Portland should be highly motivated after getting emasculated at home in the most recent meeting, Utah has just owned this series of late. The Jazz have won the past 3 meetings, while going 4-1 SU in the past 5 meetings since Nov. 14, 2023.
The Jazz have won 3 of those 4 meetings by 8 or more points, and the average margin of victory in the past 5 games, including Portland’s 16-point win Nov. 22, 2023, has Utah plus-55, with a total point differential of 11.0 points per game. Obviously, that was helped out greatly by the 42-point win 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Against the spread
AVOID since we’re on the Utah moneyline, but it’s understandable if you’d rather play Jazz +2.5 (-105).
Over/Under
OVER 225.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board in this battle.
The Over has hit in the previous 3 meetings in this series, while going 5-2 in the past 7 since Jan. 25, 2023. That included the 141-99 win by Utah on Dec. 6 in Portland.
Utah has rolled up 7 Over results in the past 8 tries, while Portland has hit high in 6 of 9 games in the month of December.
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