The Utah Jazz (13-13) will travel to the AT&T Center to go head-to-head against the San Antonio Spurs (12-14). The Jazz opened as 2.5-point favorites. The game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 218 points and it starts at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs ATS Odds
Both teams covered in their last matchup. The Spurs (1-point underdogs) defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 133-120, while the Jazz (1-point favorite) beat the Houston Rockets 118-91. The San Antonio game finished 30 points over the projected point total of 223, while the Utah game went 6 points under the projected point total of 215.
Utah played a perfect game. They had a turnover percentage of 10.6 (better than their season average of 13.9) and a free throw rate of 0.225 (above their season average of 0.225). For those same stats, Houston was 19.4 and 0.170, respectively. San Antonio, meanwhile, played a nearly flawless game. They had a superb free throw rate of 0.308 (above their season average of 0.200) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.577 (above their season average of 0.509). Los Angeles was 0.170 and 0.515, respectively, for those same stats. San Antonio rallied around DeMar DeRozan, who put up 36 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Derrick Favors had a solid performance for Utah, recording 24 points and 10 rebounds.
In their first matchup this season, Rudy Gobert led the Jazz to a 139-105 victory. He recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The two teams combined for 244 points, which was well over the projected point total of 215.5, and Utah covered as an 8-point favorite. Utah’s free throw rate was their biggest advantage over San Antonio. The Jazz had a rate of 0.202, while the Spurs posted a mark of 0.111.
Of the Jazz’s 26 games, 16 have finished over the total. Utah comes into the contest with records of 13-13 straight up (SU) and 13-13 against the spread (ATS).
Similarly to Utah, Spurs games also have a tendency to finish over the projected point total (65.4 percent). Further, San Antonio is 12-14 SU and 12-13-1 ATS.
Half-court execution will be of utmost importance when a pair of the NBA’s slowest-paced teams clash. San Antonio currently ranks 25th in possessions per game (101.2) and Utah is 24th (101.3). Additionally, the Jazz rank third in free throw attempt (FTA) rate (0.225), while the Spurs rank second in opponents’ FTA rate (0.166).
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs Pick
Prediction: SU Winner – Jazz, ATS Winner – Jazz, O/U – Over
Betting Notes:
- The Jazz rank 17 in blocks per game (5.346153846153846) while the Spurs rank 25 (4.1923076923076925).
- Utah ranks sixth in steals per game (9.0) while San Antonio ranks 28th (5.9).
- The Jazz rank 11th in points off turnovers per game (17.9) while the Spurs rank 29th (14.0).
- Utah ranks 12th in three pointers attempted per game (32.0) while San Antonio ranks 28th (24.7).
- Utah ranks 4 in rebounds allowed per game (42.26923076923077) while San Antonio ranks 14 (44.57692307692308).
- The Jazz rank third in fast break points allowed per game (10.7) while the Spurs rank 22nd (14.5).
- The Jazz rank 11 in points in the paint per game (49.61538461538461) while the Spurs rank 26 (43.23076923076923).
- Utah ranks fourth in assists allowed per game (21.6) while San Antonio ranks 23rd (25.3).
- San Antonio is 4-1 when they allow below 100 points, while Utah is 5-2.
- When scoring more than 100 points, the Jazz are 11-7 and the Spurs are 11-9.
- San Antonio is 7-5 ATS at home, while Utah is 8-8 ATS on the road.
- The total has gone over in 8 of the Jazz’s 16 road games, while 8 of the Spurs’ 12 home games have gone over.
Bettings Trends:
- The Jazz are 4-1 ATS over their last five games, while the Spurs are 2-2-1.
- In their last five games, Utah has 3 unders and 2 overs, while San Antonio has 5 overs.
- The Jazz’s average margin of victory in their last five games has been 15.4, up from 0.2 for the season.
- During their last five games, the Spurs have scored an average of 117.4 points per game (7.1 above their season average) and allowed an average of 126.8 points per game (12.8 above their season average).
