The NBA action goes on with Tuesday night’s three-game card, so we’re taking a closer look at the interconference showdown from Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City to get you the best 76ers vs. Jazz betting pick and odds.
The Sixers head to Utah as 8.5-point road underdogs, while the totals are listed at 217.5 points on MyBookie Sportsbook. Philadelphia misses Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle due to a COVID-19. Utah, on the other side, is without Rudy Gay (heel), who returned to practice on Monday but shouldn’t be able to play against Phila.
The 76ers hope to break out of their funk
The Philadelphia 76ers (8-6; 7-7 ATS) have struggled mightily as of late, playing without their best player. They are on a four-game losing streak following a 118-113 defeat at the Indiana Pacers this past Saturday.
Last Thursday, Tobias Harris returned from a six-game absence caused by COVID-19 but couldn’t help his team to avoid a 115-109 home loss to the Toronto Raptors. Harris dropped 32 points on the Pacers, while Tyrese Maxey led the way in that defeat to the Raptors, accounting for 33 points and five assists.
Despite all their selection problems, the Sixers boast the highest offensive rating in the NBA, tallying 115.1 points per 100 possessions. They rank second in the league in both field goal percentage (47.2%) and 3-point percentage (38.3%). On the other side of the ball, the Sixers surrender 110.8 points per 100 possessions (26th in the NBA).
The Jazz look to avoid a three-game losing streak
The Utah Jazz (8-5; 7-6 ATS) are coming off a 111-105 home loss to the Miami Heat this past Saturday. It was their second defeat on the spin and fourth in the past five outings at any location, as Utah’s offense continues to struggle a lot.
The Jazz went only 17-for-53 from beyond the arc last weekend. Donovan Mitchell hit just three of his ten attempts from deep, while Bojan Bogdanovic led the way with 26 points and six rebounds, making six of his 13 shots from downtown.
Utah is scoring 112.2 points per 100 possessions and ranks third in the league mostly thanks to some prolific outings through the first two weeks of the season. The Jazz are yielding 105.5 points in a return (10th in the NBA) on 44.2% shooting from the field (13th) and 32.5% from beyond the 3-point line (tied-7th).
Trends:
Philadelphia:
- 1-4 ATS in the last five games overall
Utah:
- 14-5-1 ATS in the last 20 home games as favorites of 8.5 or fewer points
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Utah Jazz Pick
The short-handed Sixers are fighting bravely, and three of their previous four losses have come by seven or fewer points. Still, they’ve covered only once in their last five outings, so I’m expecting the 76ers to have a torrid time at Vivint Arena.
The Jazz have struggled to shoot the ball well over the last ten days. That will have to change eventually, and the Jazz have a nice opportunity to start improving, as the Sixers rank 21st in the league in the opponent 3-point percentage (35.4%).
Pick: Take Utah Jazz -8.5 at -110
The Total:
I’m expecting a high-scoring affair, as both teams lean on their offense. The Sixers continue to find a way on the offensive end despite Joel Embiid’s absence, but their defense has been leaky thus far. Phila has allowed 115 or more points over its last three games, and the over is 4-1 in the Sixers’ previous five outings.
On the other side, the Jazz are taking 42.2 attempts from deep per contest, enough for the third-most in the NBA. If they start knocking down those shots, the Jazz could easily hit a 120-point mark in this one.
Pick: Go over 217.5 points at -110
