The Utah Jazz accomplished what they wanted to in Los Angeles, splitting the pair of games with the Clippers to return home with a chance to get a leg up in their first-round matchup. This is a pivotal game for both sides, and it figures to be a competitive showdown.
Utah doesn’t have the same star power as Los Angeles but was really impressive at home during the regular season and will aim to retake the series lead. The Clippers are the higher seed and need a split in these two road games to get back the home court advantage.
The first two games have been close and it seems like this one should also be competitive.
This war on the floor will go down Friday, April 21, 2017, at 9 p.m. ET at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
NBA Odds
While the Clippers were the favorites in the first two games, the spread will change with Utah now getting the home court advantage in this one. Utah may be a slight favorite, while the scoring total could be close to the 200 which it was in Game 2.
The Clippers are 52-32 straight up and 40-43-1 against the spread on the season. Los Angeles has covered in 19 of 41 games on the road this season. The Clippers are 12-11 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
The Jazz are also 52-32 straight up and have gone 39-42-3 against the spread this year. Utah is 19-19-3 against the spread at home this season. The Jazz have gone 28-26-3 against the spread as the favorites on the year.
Last Time Out
The Clippers started strong in the first quarter and kept a solid lead the rest of the way, pulling out a 99-91 victory. Chris Paul was very good, scoring 21 points and adding nine assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field.
Blake Griffin added 24 points while DeAndre Jordan was impressive in the middle. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 20 points but shot only 5-of-15 from the field. Utah isn’t a great offensive team, and it needs its star to be efficient to have a shot to knock off the Clippers in their ensuing games.
The Clippers shot better than 52 percent from the field and didn’t trail after the first quarter, an impressive performance in a game they needed to win to get this series back to even.
Player to Watch
Jordan -- The Clippers’ center has been a difference-maker in this series. He scored 10 points, hauled down 15 rebounds and added three blocks in the first game but the Clippers fell in the opener by two points.
He was even better in Game 2, amassing 18 points, 15 rebounds and a block. He shot 9-of-11 from the field in the contest, and Utah must figure out a way to slow him down.
Jordan isn’t an elite scorer, but he’s been dominant in the paint through two games and will aim to keep it rolling as this series moves to Utah.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The Jazz are a top defensive team and they have done a nice job keeping the Clippers in check through the first two games. If they can play well again, the home court advantage should be enough to get them this win.
Many look at Los Angeles as the better team, but this matchup is quite even. The Jazz should be able to pull this one out behind a big game from Hayward, who should be able to shoot the ball better than he did in Los Angeles.
Keep a close eye on the scoring total. It could be close, but the “over” seems like the better play in what could be a game that comes down to the wire.
NBA Odds: Jazz 102, Clippers 100
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