The Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers lock horns in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals, so hereโs the best betting pick for their Monday nightโs showdown at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The Jazz have a 2-1 series lead after winning the first two contests on the home court, 112-109 and 117-111. The Clippers cut the deficit last Saturday, as they thrashed off the Jazz as 5-point home favorites in Game 3, 132-106, and LA is listed as a 4-point fave for Mondayโs clash. The Jazz are +160 moneyline dogs with a total of 223.5 points on BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Jazz struggled mightily in Game 3
The Utah Jazz fell apart last Saturday and suffered a heavy defeat at Staples Center. They hit 19 triples out of 44 attempts (43.2%), but nothing else worked for the Jazz who handed out only 15 assists and committed 16 turnovers.
Utah failed to cope with the Clippers on both sides of the ball after a couple of excellent displays on the home court. The Jazz shot just 42.9% from the field, and they made 55.3% of their field goals in Game 2.
Donovan Mitchell is leading the way for Utah this postseason, averaging 32.3 points and 5.1 assists a night while shooting 47.9% from the field and 43.7% from downtown. The Jazz are tallying 119.0 points per game, yielding 115.9 in a return.
Utah missed Mike Conley (hamstring) in each of its previous three games, and the 33-year-old guard will probably remain sidelined for Game 4. Mitchell tweaked his ankle in Game 4 but will be ready to go Monday.
The Clippers are back in style
The Los Angeles Clippers were in a 2-0 hole on Saturday, needing a strong performance from their best players. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George thrived under pressure and dominated the Jazz on both sides of the floor.
Kawhi accounted for 34 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while George added 31 points and five dimes while shooting 6-for-10 from beyond the 3-point line. The Clippers turned the ball over just nine times and yielded a paltry 32 points in the paint, so the head coach Tyronn Lue was certainly pleased with his teamโs display.
LA made 56.2% of its field goals and 52.8% of its 3-pointers in Game 3. The Clippers are now scoring 113.0 points per game this postseason while allowing 107.7 in a return. Kawhi Leonard is leading the way with 30.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest.
Trends:
Utah:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six road games as underdogs
LA Clippers:
- 11-6 ATS in the last 17 home games as favorites of four or fewer points
NBA Picks
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers Side:
The Clippers got us some easy money in Game 3, and Iโm expecting another victory Monday, backing LA to cover a 4-point spread. They played some lovely staff in front of the home fans, showing that you donโt need to slow down Utahโs 3-point shooting to win.
The Jazz will certainly be keen to make amends for Saturdayโs heavy loss. We should see a much tighter contest, but if the Clippers continue to do the right things, especially on the defensive end, theyโll tie up this series.
ย Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers Total:
The over is 2-1 in this series and 6-2-1 in the previous nine meetings between the Jazz and Clippers. I will stick with this betting trend, though the Clippers to cover are still my top pick here.
Although the Clippers like to take things slowly, each of their last four outings produced more than 220 points in total. The Jazz, on the other side, lean heavily on their 3-point shooting, so I cannot expect a low-scoring affair.ย