Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers 12/29/2021 NBA Odds, Preview, and Prediction

The Utah Jazz conclude their two-game road trip with a visit to the Moda Center and a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Utah has won eight out of its last 10 games including the last four and is coming off a 110-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs in their last outing. The Jazz have the third-best record in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. They are also the no. 1 team in the Northwest Division and are 24-9 SU on the season.

Portland has won just two times in its last 10 games played and have lost back-to-back games to the Pelicans and Mavericks with both losses coming via double digits. The Blazers are 13-20 on the season and they are in 4th place in the Northwest Division and are currently 11th in the Western Conference team standings.

This is the second meeting between these teams this season with the Jazz winning last November 29th 129-107 in Salt Lake City.

Utah Jazz

Despite playing without Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz looked in tune against the Spurs the last time out. Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to score 23 points while Rudy Gobert had 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks to lead Utah. Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points while Joe Ingles added 17 and Hassan Whiteside contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds in the win over San Antonio.

The Jazz are the highest-scoring team in the NBA this season at 115.8 points per game. Utah is also the league’s best rebounding team at 47.6 boards grabbed per contest and are 20th in passing at 22.8 assists per game. They are 7th in scoring defense at 105.6 points per game allowed.

What are the Moneyline Odds?

Utah Jazz

-250

Portland Trail Blazers

+200

Odds from BetOnline as of 12/28/2021

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers lost by 15 points to the Mavericks in their last game with Kristaps Porzingis scoring 34 points for Dallas. On the other side, Damian Lillard led Portland with 26 points but shot just 5-15 from the floor. Nassir Little added a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards while Norman Powell also scored 15 points. Larry Nance Jr. also scored 12 points and grabbed 5 rebounds for the Blazers.

Portland ranks 14th in scoring at 108.4 points per game this season. The Blazers are 25th in rebounding at 43.4 boards grabbed per contest and 23rd in passing at 22.6 assists per game. They are, however, just 26th in scoring defense at 111.7 points per game allowed this season.

Who Wins?

Utah is 12-2 SU in their last 14 games played. The Jazz are 7-0 SU in their last seven games played on the road. Portland is 2-9 SU in their last 11 games played. The Blazers are 1-6 SU in their last seven games played at home.

The Jazz will be without Donovan Mitchell again who stayed in Salt Lake City to get treated on a back strain he suffered five days ago against the Mavericks. Despite playing without Mitchell, the Jazz had more than enough firepower to win their last game against the Spurs.

Meanwhile, the Blazers will still be without C.J. McCollum here although he is expected to return later this week. Portland will also be without Robert Covington who was placed on the health and safety protocols list. That means Damian Lillard will have heavy lifting to do here and against a loaded team like the Jazz, even Dame Time isn’t enough.

Give me the Jazz to put on another offensive display here. Even without Mitchell, they should be able to outgun the Blazers on Tuesday night.

Prediction: Utah Jazz

Other Bets to Make

The Jazz are 0-6 ATS in their last six games played. Utah is 8-6 ATS in 14 road games played this season, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Wednesday games, 0-5 ATS in their last five games after an ATS loss, 0-6 ATS in their last six games when their opponents allows 100 or more points in their previous game, 0-6 ATS in their last six games after scoring 100 or more points in their previous game, 0-4 ATS in their last five games after a straight-up win, and 7-18-1 in their last 26 road games against an opponent with a winning home record.

The Blazers are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games played. Portland is 28-12 ATS in their last 40 Wednesday games, 2-5 ATS in their last seven games after an ATS loss, 3- 8 ATS in their last 11 games after scoring more than 100 points in their previous game, 1-4 ATS in their last five games after a straight-up loss, 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games against an opponent with a winning straight up record, and 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games.

Head to head, the Jazz are 2-1 ATS in the last three meetings between these two teams. Portland however is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games against Utah.

What are the Spread Odds?

Utah Jazz

-6 (-110)

Portland Trail Blazers

+6 (-110)

Odds from BetOnline as of 12/28/2021

With Nurkic also out, the Jazz will dominate the paint with Gobert and Whiteside. This should force Portland to try and win this game with their outside shooting. However, the Jazz have the league’s 3rd best perimeter defense so it won’t be easy for Portland to score from the outside.

The Jazz have failed to cover in their last six games but the Blazers haven’t been impressive against the spread at all. Utah’s too good not to cover in six straight games. I don’t think the streak stretches to seven. Give me the to win this game by double-digits. Six out of the Blazers’ last eight losses have been by 10+ points.

Prediction: Utah Jazz -6

The total has gone over in 13 out of the last 19 games played by the Jazz. The over is 7-1 in their last eight games against the Western Conference, 5-0 in their last five games against the Northwest Division, 6-1 in their last seven Wednesday games, 8-2-1 in their last 11 games after a straight-up win, 9-3-1 in their last 13 games when playing on one day rest, and 17-8-2 in their last 27 games on the road against an opponent with a winning home record.

The total has gone over in four out of the Blazers’ last seven games played. The over is 3-1-1 in their last five games after a straight-up loss, 36-15-1 in their last 22 home games against an opponent with a road winning percentage greater than .600, 6-0 in their last eight games against the Northwest Division, and 3-1-1 in their last five home games.

The Jazz have the best offense in the league and are averaging 115.8 points per game this season. Even without Mitchell, this team has plenty of scorers on board who can pick up the slack. Plus, the Portland defense has looked bad as of late and even allowed a Dallas team without Luka Doncic to score 132 points the last time out.

Meanwhile, the Jazz have allowed an average of 112 points per game in their last three games with the total hitting 240 twice in their last three assignments. The over is also 17-7 in their last 24 meetings in Portland. This one has the makings of a track meet.

Prediction: Over 230

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