The 2021-22 NBA season goes on Friday, February 4, with the highly anticipated interconference showdown at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, so we bring you the best Nets vs. Jazz betting pick along with the latest team stats, news, and latest odds update on BetMGM Sportsbook.
Brooklyn and Utah start their two-game regular-season set. Both teams have been awful as of late, so we’re expecting to see a great battle between a couple of playoff contenders. The Jazz have dominated the Nets over their previous six encounters, going 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS in the process.
The Nets’ free fall continues    Â
The Brooklyn Nets are riding a six-game losing streak following a 112-101 defeat at the Sacramento Kings this past Wednesday. Playing as 5-point road favorites, the Nets fell to 29-22 SU and 19-31-1 ATS on the season.
Brooklyn blew a double-digit lead in California, scoring only 15 points in the fourth quarter. James Harden had an abysmal game, finishing with four points on 2-for-11 shooting from the field, while Kyrie Irving hit just five of his 15 field-goal attempts and accounted for 14 points.
The Nets look helpless without Kevin Durant, who’ll remain on the sidelines for at least a few weeks more due to a knee injury. Over their last six showings, the Nets have recorded the 15th-best offensive rating in the league (112.1 points per 100 possessions) and the second-worst defensive rating (120.2).
The Jazz have just snapped their five-game losing streak     Â
The Utah Jazz (31-21; 21-30-1 ATS) are coming off a 108-104 home victory to the Denver Nuggets this past Wednesday. They failed to cover a 6.5-point spread, but the Jazz must be pleased with a win that put an end to their five-game slump.
With Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, and Jordan Clarkson all on the injury list, the second-year guard Trent Forrest led the way for the Jazz against Denver. Forrest accounted for 18 points and eight assists in 39 minutes on the floor, while Mike Conley added 17 points, five dimes, and four steals.
The Jazz have struggled mightily over the last few weeks. They’ve gone only 3-11 straight up and 2-11-1 ATS in their previous 14 games at any location. The Jazz have registered the sixth-worst defensive rating in the NBA in their last six showings (116.5).
Trends:
Brooklyn:
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games overall
- 1-5 ATS in the last six games against the Western Conference
Utah:
- 10-4 ATS in the last 14 games against Utah
Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz Pick
The Nets continue to play without their best player, while Joe Harris and LaMarcus Aldridge are both sidelined as well. On the other side, the Jazz could get a few guys back, including Donovan Mitchell (concussion), so I lean the hosts to win and cover.
Taking a side bet in this matchup seems like a coin flip. Check out the injury report Friday night and go with the hosts should they get some of their starters back. Jordan Clarkson’s knee injury shouldn’t be serious, but Rudy Gobert’s calf problems will probably keep Utah’s big man on the shelf.
Pick: Take Utah Jazz
The Total:
The under has hit in Utah’s last five games on the home court. The Jazz average 97.9 possessions per 48 minutes, but they are forced to play at an even slower pace due to all their injury problems. Joe Ingles was a huge factor in Utah’s backcourt, so the Jazz struggle to orchestrate their offense.
Donovan Mitchell’s eventual return will make some changes, but the Jazz and Nets should still struggle to provide a proper high-scoring affair. Brooklyn registers 99.0 possessions per 48 minutes, but the Nets have surpassed a 110-point mark only twice in their last five outings.
Pick: Go under
