For the first time in more than 14 months, the Philadelphia 76er and Utah Jazz will square off against each other, so here’s my best betting pick for their Monday night’s showdown at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
According to PointsBet Sportsbook, the Jazz opened as firm 6-point home favorites with a total of 227.5 points. Utah will miss Mike Conley due to a hamstring injury, but all other guys are ready to go. Phila, on the other side, is without Shake Milton (ankle), while Joel Embiid is listed as questionable due to a back injury.
The 76ers hope to avoid the third straight loss
The Philadelphia 76ers (18-9; 14-11-2 ATS) will close down a four-game road trip on Monday and try to snap a two-game skid. In their previous two showings, the Sixers have lost at Portland 118-114 and Phoenix 120-111, failing to cover on both occasions.
Joel Embiid had 35 points in each of those two contests, and his eventual absence would be a massive blow for the 76ers. The 26-year-old big man surpassed a 30-point mark in six of his last seven games, and he’s averaging 33.0 points and 9.5 boards over his last ten outings.
The 76ers are fifth in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions (109.2), but they rank 16th in opponent 3-point percentage (37.1%). Phila scores 112.5 points per 100 possessions (tied-15th) on 48.0% shooting from the field (6th) and 35.9% from downtown (19th).
Utah’s ridiculous run continues
The Utah Jazz (22-5; 20-6-1 ATS) are rolling on a seven-game winning streak following a 112-94 victory to the Miami Heat this past Saturday. They recorded the sixth straight ATS victory as well, while the Jazz have dropped only one of their previous 19 games overall.
Utah smashed Miami on the back of another excellent team performance, as five players scored in double figures including a couple of guys from the second unit. The Jazz shot only 26.1% from deep, but they scored 54 points in the paint while holding the Heat to 40.7% shooting from the field.
Donovan Mitchell continues to play at a high level, tallying 26.0 points and 5.5 assists per game over his last eight appearances. Rudy Gobert is averaging 14.0 points and 13.4 rebounds on the season, while Bojan Bogdanovic adds 15.8 points a night.
The Jazz score 117.0 points per 100 possessions (4th in the NBA) while making 39.5% of their 3-pointers (also 4th). They yield 107.5 points in a return (2nd) on 43.8% shooting from the field (also 2nd) and 35.3% from beyond the arc (5th).
Trends:
Philadelphia:
- 8-21-2 ATS in the last 31 road games
- 1-4 ATS in the last five games played on Monday
Utah:
- 17-1-1 ATS in the last 19 games overall
- 6-0 ATS in the last six tilts against the Eastern Conference
The 76ers have dominated the Jazz over the last few years. They are 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS in the previous six encounters with Utah, so the hosts must be keen to get revenge.
The Jazz are completely ridiculous this season, covering the spread in 17 of their last 19 outings. They are a top-5 team in the league on both sides of the ball, and the Jazz should outlast the Sixers even if Joel Embiid suits up.
Pick: Take Utah Jazz -6.0 at -110
The Total:
I would stick with the Jazz to cover, as the totals could easily go either way, especially with the line at 227.5 points. If Joel Embiid hits the sidelines, the Sixers could struggle to score against Utah’s stout defense.
On the other side, the Jazz lean heavily on their 3-point shooting, taking the most attempts from deep per game in the NBA (42.3). I’ve mentioned the Sixers’ woes with their 3-point line defense, so I’ll take the over on the totals, expecting the Jazz to drop a bunch of baskets on Phila.
Pick: Go over 227.5 points at -110