MENU
The Phoenix Suns head to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday night.
The Suns are trying to get back in the playoff picture and they are just 5.5 games behind the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies. The Suns are 2-1 SU in their last three games played and in their last outing, they snapped a five-game losing streak on the road. The Jazz are tied with the Houston Rockets for the 4th best record in the West. They head to his game after losing back to back home games to the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Utah is a solid 20-7 overall at home this season.
Third Worst Record in the West
The Phoenix Suns have the third-worst record in the Western Conference right now but surprisingly, they are just 5.5 games off the 8th and final playoff spot in their conference. The Suns have won two out of their last three games played and they head to Salt Lake City after picking up a win over the Bulls in Chicago last Saturday night.
Devin Booker scored 29 points on 5-10 shooting after placing 2nd to Buddy Hield in the 2020 NBA Three-Point Contest. DeAndre Ayton also had a monster game with 28 points and 19 rebounds while Ricky Rubio added 18 points and 11 assists for the Suns who snapped a five-game road losing streak with the victory.
Phoenix ranks 14th overall in team scoring at 112.2 points per game this season. They are the second-best passing team in the NBA at 26.9 assists per game and are ranked 21st in rebounding at 43.2 boards grabbed per contest. The Suns are just 20th in the league in scoring defense at 113.7 points per game allowed.
The Utah Jazz are currently tied with the Houston Rockets for the 4th best record in the Western Conference at 36-20. The Jazz have blown hot and cold as of late. They lost five straight games and then won four in a row heading to the All-Star break but have lost back to back games, both at home since play has resumed.
In their last outing, Utah dropped a 110-120 game to the Houston Rockets. James Harden and Russell Westbrook combined for 72 points against Utah’s defense. Donovan Mitchell tried to fire back with 31 points and Jordan Clarkson added 22 but the Jazz could not come closer than seven points to the Rockets in the 4th quarter of the game. Mike Conley had a good game for the Jazz with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and seven assists.
Utah ranks 16th in scoring at 111.1 points per game on the season. They are 12th in rebounding at 45.8 boards pulled down per contest and are tied for 25th in passing at 22.3 dimes per contest. The Jazz have the 7th best scoring defense in the NBA at 107.3 points per game allowed this season.
Who Wins?
Phoenix is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played. The Suns are 1-5 SU in their last six games played on the road, and 3-17 SU in their last 20 games against the Northwest Division. Utah is 4-2 SU in their last six games played. The Jazz are 2-3 SU in their last five games played at home, and 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Jazz are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games played against the Suns. Utah is also 10-0 SU in their last 10 home games against Phoenix.
The Suns are just 5.5 games behind the 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference team standings. They have won two out of their last three assignments and if the Suns continue to play well, they might just get back in the playoff picture. Phoenix is 12-16 SU on the road this season.
Utah is 20-7 SU at home this season and they are coming off back to back home losses. The Jazz have blown hot and cold in the last month or so and they have been a very streak team over that period. Mike Conley continues to improve as he returns from injury and he is the key to Utah’s success here.
The Jazz need to right the ship here after back to back losses. They should be able to pick up the win at home where they have been solid. Utah has beaten Phoenix in each of their last eight meetings and I don’t think that will change here. I expect a big game from Donovan Mitchell on offense and Rudy Gobert on defense.
Prediction: Utah Jazz
Other Bets to Make
The Suns are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games played. Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in their last six games played on the road. The Jazz are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games played. Utah is 1-4 ATS in their last five games played at home. Head to head, the Jazz are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Suns.
Suns
+8 (-113)
Jazz
-8 (-107)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 02/24/20
The Jazz have dominated this matchup and they have covered the spread in five out of their last six meetings. Utah has outscored Phoenix by an average margin of 16.6 points per game in their last 10 meetings and 18.67 points per game in their most recent three head to head encounters. Utah is eager to return to bounce back from back to back losses. The Suns have been playing better as of late but five out of their last seven losses have been by nine points or more. I like the Jazz to cover the spread at home.
Prediction: Utah Jazz -8
The total has gone over in each of the last five games played by the Spurs. The over is also 5-0 in their last five road games. The total has gone over in 11 out of the last 16 games played by the Jazz. Utah has seen the total go over in three out of their last five games played at home. Head to head, the total has gone over in eight out of the last 10 games played between these two teams.
Over
223.5 (-110)
Under
223.5 (-110)
Odds from SportsBetting as of 02/24/20
These teams have combined to score an average of 207.67 points per game in their last three head to head meetings. The Suns have seen the total go under 224 in six out of their last 10 meetings including the last four. Utah has gone below 224 in two out of their last three outings and the Jazz have a Top 10 defense. I like these teams to play to the under with Rudy Gobert playing a big factor here.
Prediction: Under 223.5
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks 04/19/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers 04/17/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees 04/14/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans 04/12/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Prediction
