Jazz vs. Bucks Prediction & Odds
The third-place Jazz travel to Milwaukee to take on the first-place Bucks Saturday night at 8:00 PM ET. Can the Bucks cover the 5.5-point spread as home favorites?
The Utah Jazz are 17-14 on the season. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Jazz are 18-13 ATS on the year.
The Milwaukee Bucks are 20-8 on the season. They’re 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Bucks are 15-11-2 ATS on the year.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
559 Utah Jazz (+5.5) at 560 Milwaukee Bucks (-5.5); O/U 230.5
8:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 17, 2022
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Jazz vs. Bucks Public Betting Information
Our NBA Public Betting Information page indicates that 64% of public bettors are currently backing the Jazz +5.5 in this contest. Note that these numbers are subject to change, so be sure to check the link to receive the most up-to-date public betting data.
Utah Jazz DFS Spin
Utah Jazz point guard Collin Sexton will miss Saturday’s contest due to a hamstring injury. Sexton is third on the Jazz in scoring with 14 points per game and fourth in assists with 3 per game.
Sexton’s absence may open the door for Jazz point guard Jordan Clarkson to take on more of the scoring load. Clarkson is averaging 20.2 points per game this season and has scored at least 19 points in 12 of his last 14 games. Clarkson is contributing in other categories as well as he’s dishing out 4.7 assists per game, grabbing 3.9 rebounds per game, and sinking 2.7 three-pointers per game. He will likely factor heavily into Utah’s offense on Saturday.
If you need threes and rebounding on the cheap, consider Utah’s Kelly Olynyk. Olynyk is averaging 13 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 made threes per game this season. He actually leads the Jazz in starts and plays the fourth-most minutes per game so his volume should offer some cost-effective production in DFS this weekend.
Milwaukee Bucks DFS Spin
With the Bucks, you always want to check who’s on the injury report before the game. This time it’s star forward Khris Middleton who won’t suit up against Utah on Saturday. Middleton is dealing with right knee soreness. Milwaukee point guard Jrue Holiday has missed the past two games with an illness but is listed as probable for Saturday’s clash with Utah. As such, Holiday would be a nice value play as he should see some more offensive opportunities with Middleton out.
If you need blocked shots and three-pointers, consider Milwaukee center Brook Lopez. Lopez is leading the NBA in blocks with 2.8 per game and he’s shooting an efficient 39.3% from deep while hitting 2.1 threes per game. On the whole, Brook Lopez is fourth on the Bucks in points per game with 13.9 and third in rebounds per game with 5.8. He should provide a unique blend of skills that could prove invaluable for DFS purposes this weekend.
Jazz vs. Bucks NBA Betting Trends
Utah is 8-0 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a winning percentage above .600.
Utah is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games following an ATS win.
Milwaukee is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring 100 or more points in their previous game.
Utah is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Jazz vs. Bucks NBA Prediction
The Utah Jazz are too good to tank. The Jazz have the 6th best record against the spread this year in the NBA At 18-13 and the fourth-best record against the spread as a road team at 9-6. They are well-coached and can flat-out score the basketball. Utah is ranked in the top eight in the NBA in offensive efficiency, team assists per field goals made, effective field goal percentage, and true shooting percentage. What’s more, the Utah Jazz are 30-9 ATS in their last 39 games against the Milwaukee Bucks. I think Utah can cover this game because of Middleton’s absence and their ability to run their offense. I’ll take the Jazz and the points.
NBA BETTING PREDICTION: UTAH JAZZ +5.5
