The Utah Jazz are charging hard for a playoff berth, but to get one, they are going to have to knock off some higher seeds down the stretch. A golden opportunity will present itself later this week when Utah hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves in a key Western Conference clash.
Minnesota has the superior record but has not been very good on the road this season. Utah, meanwhile, has been solid at home and has played very well of late. The Jazz may be the slight favorites on the spread but this seems like a game that could end up going either way.
Each side is in a mad scramble. In the T-Wolves’ situation, it is for playoff seed, while Utah is simply hoping to finish off a huge surge and qualify for the postseason. The ramifications of this game are huge for each side.
Don't miss the hardwood action from Vivint Smart Home Arena at 10:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the game live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
Odds Analysis
The Timberwolves are 38-26 straight up and 30-32-2 against the spread. Minnesota is 14-17-1 against the spread on the road this season. It has covered in 10 of 21 attempts as the underdog.
The Jazz are 31-30 straight up and 31-30 against the spread. Utah has covered in 16 of 30 attempts at home on the season. Utah is just 11-15 against the spread as the favorite on the year and will look to improve on that provided it is the team to beat in this matchup.
Key Stat
11. That’s the number of wins the Jazz put together recently in order to vault back into playoff contention. They currently sit in 10th place in the standings but only two games out of the eighth spot, which is currently being occupied by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Utah has only gone 1-2 since that streak ended. It lost to the Trail Blazers to break the winning streak. The Jazz knocked off the Mavericks with ease before falling to the elite Houston Rockets last time out.
Despite a mini-lull lately Utah still is playing at a high level and has enough talent to push the Clippers and the other teams in the bottom half of the playoff picture for a possible berth.
Player To Watch
Jimmy Butler — The Jazz has an elite shot-blocking big man down low in Rudy Gobert and he may be able to keep Karl-Anthony Towns somewhat in check on the block. Therefore, it could be incumbent on Butler to do a lot of the damage for the Timberwolves in this one.
Butler is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals per contest for Minnesota this season and is one of the better all-around players in the NBA.
Utah likes playing a slow-down style which puts an emphasis on half-court scoring. Butler can create his own shot and will be relied on a lot in this game.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Utah has really taken off with Gobert’s return from injury and the rise of rookie guard Donovan Mitchell. The T-Wolves are a good team but the location of this game makes all the difference. Look for Minnesota’s woes on the road to continue.
Utah is the pick to win this game, although it should be close. Keep an eye on the spread, because the Timberwolves could be the right choice to cover if the Jazz are picked to win this contest by a handful of points. The “under” could hit as Utah will be able to exert its style on the more high-flying T-Wolves.
NBA Odds: Jazz 101, Timberwolves 98
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
