Blake Daniels, December 22, 2022

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The Washington Wizards continue their Western Conference trip with a visit to Salt Lake City and a matchup against the Utah Jazz.

The Wizards are 12-20 SU on the season and they are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference team standings. Washington is just 4-13 SU on the road this season and before Tuesday’s win over the Suns, the Wizards lost 10 consecutive games.

The Jazz also returned to the winning column the last time out as they ended their three-game road trip with a win over the Detroit Pistons. Utah is 18-16 SU on the season and they are in 8th place in the Western Conference team standings. The Jazz are just 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played but they have a solid 11-5 SU record at home.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards snapped their 10-game losing streak by defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in the Valley of the Sun last Tuesday. The two teams played evenly for three quarters and at the end of the game, it was Washington’s 26-18 second quarter that was the difference in the game.

Kyle Kuzma led the Wizards with 29 points while Bradley Beal added 27. Deni Avdija contributed a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Daniel Gafford added 12 points.

Washington ranks 25th in scoring at 110.7 points per game this season. They are shooting 47.3% from the field and 34.7% from behind the three-point arc. Beal leads the team in scoring at 23.4 points per game while Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 22.4 points per game. Kuzma meanwhile is having his best season ever at 21.5 points per game this year.

The Wizards will be without Rui Hachimura while Porzingis is listed as day-to-day.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz did not go home empty-handed as they ended their three-game road trip with a win over the Detroit Pistons. Utah outscored Detroit 65-51 in the second half to earn the victory. Lauri Markkanen led Utah with a career-high 38 points while former 6th Man of the Year winner Jordan Clarkson added 21 points.

Jarred Vanderbilt posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Malik Beasley added 17 and Walker Kessler contributed 10 points.

Utah is the 4th best scoring team in the NBA at 116.9 points per game scored this season. However, they are also just 26th in scoring defense at 116 points per game conceded. Markkanen is Utah’s top scorer at 22.8 points per game this season while Clarkson is putting up 20.1 PPG.

The Jazz will be without Kelly Olynyk and Sexton while Micah Porter is listed as day-to-day.

Wizards vs Jazz SU Prediction

The Wizards are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played against the Jazz. Washington is also 2-1 SU in their last 3 games played against Utah.

Washington Wizards SU trends:

• The Wizards are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games played.
• The Wizards are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games played on the road.
• The Wizards are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games played against the Western Conference.
• The Wizards are 1-4 SU in their last 5 road games against the Western Conference.
• The Wizards are 5-15 SU in their last 20 games played as betting underdogs.

Utah Jazz SU trends:

• The Jazz are 3-2 SU in their last 5 games played.
• The Jazz are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games played at home.
• The Jazz are 11-5 SU in their last 16 December games played.
• The Jazz are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played against the Eastern Conference.
• The Jazz are 6-6 SU in their last 12 games as betting favorites.

Kyle Kuzma is having his best NBA season and he was one of the few bright spots when Washington had their 10-game losing streak. Kuz averaged 23.1 points and 7.0 rebounds during that stretch and he led the team last Tuesday with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists as the Wizards upset the Phoenix Suns 113-110 on the road to snap their losing skid.

Washington could get point guard Delon Wright back on Thursday after missing two months with a hamstring injury. However, the Wizards could be without Kristaps Porzings who scored 31 points in the Wizards’ win over the Jazz last month. KP did not play against the Suns due to a non-COVID illness. If he misses this game, it will be a huge loss for the Wizards’ cause.

The Jazz are back home after going 1-2 on an Eastern Conference trip. Utah lost the first two games of that road swing to the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers and lost by an average margin of 24.5 points. They ended the trip with a 126-111 in Detroit to get back on track.

Lauri Markkanen is having a fantastic season and he is coming off a career-high 38 points against the Pistons. Markkanen scored 17 points when these two teams first met last month. Thursday’s game will be one of three remaining home games in 2022 for the Jazz. With six out of their next nine games to be played on the road.

Neither team plays on Christmas Eve or Christmas day so expect a wire-to-wire effort from both squads. The Wizards however are playing their 5th road game in a row and could be a tired team already before they close out this Western Conference swing. Meanwhile, the Jazz are back at home and should be happy to see their fans before Christmas.

I think fatigue and home court will play a big factor here. Both are on the side of the Jazz so I will pick Utah here.

Prediction: Utah Jazz

Wizards vs Jazz ATS Prediction

The Wizards are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games played against the Jazz. Washington is also 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games played in Utah.

Washington Wizards ATS trends:

• The Wizards are 4-12-2 ATS in their last 18 games overall.
• The Wizards are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
• The Wizards are 5-2-1 ATS in their last 8 games following an ATS win.
• The Wizards are 24-52-4 ATS in their last 80 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Wizards are 18-39-3 ATS in their last 60 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Wizards are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 road games against a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• The Wizards are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Wizards are 4-11-2 ATS in their last 17 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Wizards are 8-23-2 ATS in their last 33 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The Wizards are 4-12-2 ATS in their last 18 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Wizards are 6-20-2 ATS in their last 28 games following a straight-up win.
• The Wizards are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.

Utah Jazz ATS trends:

• The Jazz are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games versus a team with a winning % below .400.
• The Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Jazz are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
• The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games against a team with a losing road record.
• The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a losing straight-up record.

This is a very possible letdown game for the Wizards. Washington is still feeling high after beating the Suns last Tuesday. However, this will also be their fifth consecutive road game with still one more to go before they go home.

Meanwhile, the Jazz carry momentum too after closing out their road trip with a win the last time out. They will be more comfortable than the Wizards because they will be playing at home, where they are 11-5 SU this season. Give me the Jazz to win and cover the spread on Thursday night.

Prediction: Utah Jazz

Wizards vs Jazz Over/Under Prediction

The total has gone over in 6 out of the last 8 games played between these two teams.

Washington Wizards over/under trends:

• The under is 4-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 overall.
• The under is 3-1-2 in the Wizards’ last 6 road games.
• The under is 4-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 3-1-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 games following an ATS win.
• The under is 3-1-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The over is 8-2 in the Wizards’ last 10 Thursday games.
• The over is 3-1-1 in the Wizards’ last 5 road games versus a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
• The over is 6-1-1 in the Wizards’ last 8 games against a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The over is 23-11-1 in the Wizards’ last 35 games following a straight-up win.

Utah Jazz over/under trends:

• The over is 4-0 in the Jazz’s last 4 games against a team with a winning % below .400.
• The over is 6-1 in the Jazz’s last 7 versus a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The over is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 Thursday games.
• The over is 8-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 12 home games against a team with a losing road record.
• The over is 7-3 in the Jazz’s last 10 games following a straight-up win.
• The over is 7-3 in the Jazz’s last 10 games playing on 1 day of rest.
• The over is 7-3 in the Jazz’s last 10 home games versus a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 7-3 in the Jazz’s last 10 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
• The under is 15-5-1 in the Jazz’s last 21 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.

Both these teams are capable of scoring big time. The Wizards have scored 117 or more points twice in their last four games played. The Jazz have scored at least 126 points also twice in their last four games played.

The Wizards’ defense hasn’t been that impressive this season. They have allowed at least 114 points 7 times in their last 10 games played including 4 times at 119 or more. Meanwhile, Utah has conceded over 120 points thrice in their last four games played.

These teams have combined to score an average of 233.0 points per game in their last 10 head-to-head meetings including 233 last November 12th. I like these teams to go over again.

Prediction: Over 229